As the former head of the British army, General Sir Mike Jackson oversaw a range of regiments armed with some of the most complex weapons and technology ever invented.
But yesterday, the general was left embarrassed live on television after he was defeated by a ringing mobile phone.
His phone went off twice during an interview with the BBC's economics editor Stephanie Flanders, who was standing in for Andrew Marr.
Jackson was talking about compensation given to wounded soldiers when the mobile began to ring.
Flanders told the general: "You'll have to turn that phone off." Jackson apologised and after sheepishly fumbling with some buttons, managed to silence the call and put the phone in his pocket – only for it to ring again.
As he tried to turn it off once more, technology appeared to get the better of him.
In the end, Jackson lost his patience, turned around in his seat and flung the handset off camera across the studio in exasperation. After the sound of a heavy crash rang out, he returned to face Flanders and the interview with as straight a face as he could manage.
A clip of the general's tussle with technology was later posted on Youtube, where one viewer pronounced the episode as an "absolute classic".
"I saw it unfold this morning," they added. "He couldn't turn the phone off earlier! This man was in charge of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan but can't turn off a mobile phone! Priceless."
Another said: "Natural comedy genius!! ... but I'm sure he forgot to take out the pin first ... back to basic training I think!"
