Davis was commissioned into the Royal Marines in 1981 and joined 40 Commando with whom he undertook a six-month tour in the Falkland Islands and then a six-month tour in Cyprus.[3] In 1996, he attended the Army Command and Staff Course at Staff College, Camberley.[2] In the same year, he became Chief of Staff at the Headquarters of the Combat Service Support Group (UK) in which role he took part in the Bosnian War.[3] He was appointed Chief of Staff to the Commander of the UK's Amphibious Forces in 2007 and was deployed to Afghanistan as Chief of Joint Effects for ISAF.[3] He was appointed Commander of 3 Commando Brigade in January 2010 and again deployed to Afghanistan – this time as the Commander of Task Force Helmand.[4] He became Commandant General Royal Marines in December 2011.[5]
23 March 2012 – Advanced to a Commander (CBE) "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Afghanistan during the period 1 April 2011 to 30 September 2011".[15][16]