Though clearly a professional in the targeted application of violence – putting rounds down on the enemy even as a Major General in the early days of the Second Iraq War – he is no knuckle-dragging jarhead, but a serious intellect and impressive diplomat. In person he is a calm, controlled man who can laugh easily at himself yet who no one takes lightly.

These character attributes have allowed him to reach beyond what many would see as traditional martial virtues. In Afghanistan he encouraged his men to wear facial hair, if appropriate, and his insistence on cultural understanding meant that he was often better informed than other commanders on the drivers of conflict. That helped him avoid fighting if possible, and win if not.