Brigadier Ellis was commissioned into the Royal Marines in 1978; first appointed to 42 Commando, he served with them from Hong Kong to Norway.
After training recruits at CTCRM, he became a Physical Training and Sports Officer serving in a variety of units before becoming a helicopter pilot in 1983. Following flying tours with 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron and 846 Naval Air Squadron, he qualified as a helicopter flying instructor at RAF Shawbury; subsequently applying those skills at the Army Air Corps Centre and later with 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron.
After Staff College and staff appointments he returned to flying, commanding 847 Naval Air Squadron before being appointed in command of Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) in 2001. The events of 11 September significantly influenced this period, with elements of the CHF deployed in support of a wide variety of Operations around the world but specifically in the Middle-East. Intimately involved in the planning for Operation TELIC 1, he commanded the UK aviation that enabled the assault onto the AI Faw peninsula and then supported 3 Commando Brigade’s operations in southern Iraq. He was awarded the OBE in recognition of achievements during this period.
A variety of subsequent appointments have taken him to the Fleet Headquarters, the Ministry of Defence, the Joint Helicopter Command as DACOS Commitments and to the USA, where he was Chief of Staff to the Senior British Military Advisor to the Commander of US Central Command. Before his current assignment as Director of Development in the Headquarters JHC, Brigadier Ellis was responsible for Royal Marines manpower strategic planning and career management issues in the Navy Command Headquarters.
Married to Amanda, they have three boys and live in the heart of the countryside in Somerset. He continues to enjoy fitness training but finds that much time is now spent supporting from the touchline as their boys compete; not least in rugby and athletics events.