Deputy Commander Operations is the senior
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...
officer responsible for the conduct of air operations at home and overseas.
The current Deputy Commander Operations is Air Marshal
Harvey Smyth
Air Marshal Harvey Smyth, is a senior Northern Irish Royal Air Force officer, who currently serves as the Air and Space Commander. From July 2018, he served as Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Group. Between February 2020 and August 2022, he too ...
who has been serving in the position since August 2022.
Previous post-holders
Deputy Commanders-in-Chief (Operations)
*Air Marshal
Iain McNicoll
Air Marshal Iain Walter McNicoll, (born 3 May 1953) is a retired Royal Air Force officer. He was formerly Deputy Commander-in-Chief Operations, RAF Air Command.
RAF career
Educated at the High School of Dundee and the University of Edinburgh, ...
CB CBE, 26 February 2007
[RAF Air Rank Appointments List 08/06 of 25 Sep 2006](_blank)
retrieved 3 Jan 2011 – 13 April 2010 (appointed as DC-in-C Strike Command)
*Air Marshal
Richard Garwood
Air Marshal Sir Richard Frank Garwood, (born 10 January 1959) is a retired senior Royal Air Force officer.
He was appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief (Operations) at RAF Air Command in April 2010, initially on an acting basis – having served ...
CB CBE DFC, 14 April 2010
[RAF Air Rank Appointments List 02/10 of 31 Mar 2010]
retrieved 3 Jan 2011[RAF Air Rank Appointments List 04/10 of 18 Jun 2010](_blank)
retrieved 3 Jan 2011 to Spring 2012
Deputy Commanders (Operations)
*Air Marshal
Richard Garwood
Air Marshal Sir Richard Frank Garwood, (born 10 January 1959) is a retired senior Royal Air Force officer.
He was appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief (Operations) at RAF Air Command in April 2010, initially on an acting basis – having served ...
CB CBE DFC, Spring 2012 to April 2013
*Air Marshal
Greg Bagwell CB CBE, 16 April 2013 to June 2016
*Air Marshal
Stuart Atha
Air Marshal Sir Stuart David Atha, (born 30 April 1962) is a former senior officer of the Royal Air Force. He led No. 3 (Fighter) Squadron from 2000 to 2004, which included deployment to Iraq on Operation Telic, commanded RAF Coningsby (2006†...
CB DSO, June 2016 to May 2019
*Air Marshal
Sir Gerry Mayhew CBE, May 2019 to August 2022
*Air Marshal
Harvey Smyth
Air Marshal Harvey Smyth, is a senior Northern Irish Royal Air Force officer, who currently serves as the Air and Space Commander. From July 2018, he served as Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Group. Between February 2020 and August 2022, he too ...
CB, OBE, DFC, August 2022 to present
See also
*
Deputy Commander Capability
References
Royal Air Force appointments
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