Clive Loader

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Clive Robert Loader
Allegiance Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
Service/branch Flag of the Royal Air Force Royal Air Force
Years of service 1973–present
Rank Air Chief Marshal
Commands held Air Command
Awards KCB, OBE

Air Chief Marshal Sir Clive Robert Loader, KCB, OBE, ADC, FRAeS, RAF is Commander-in-Chief Air Command (CinC AIR).

He was educated at The Judd School, Tonbridge. Air Chief Marshal Loader joined the RAF in 1973. After flying training, he was posted to Harriers, serving tours on No 1(F) Squadron at RAF Wittering and IV (Army Cooperation) Squadron at RAF Gütersloh, Germany. After an instructional tour on the Operational Conversion Unit (during which he displayed the Harrier) he was promoted to Squadron Leader (1984), and served as a Flight Commander in Germany. Staff College (1988) was followed by 10 months on the Harrier Role Desk in the MOD prior to being promoted to Wing Commander (1989). After a short tour at Rheindahlen, he became Personal Staff Officer to the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Strike Command (Sir Michael Graydon).

Air Chief Marshal Loader then commanded No 3 (Fighter) Squadron, at RAF Laarbruch (1993 to 1995). The Squadron participated in operations over Northern Iraq and Bosnia, as well as being the first Germany-based Harrier Squadron to convert to night operations. Promoted to Group Captain in 1995, he then attended the Higher Command and Staff College. He took command of RAF Laarbruch in October 1996, the Station at that time comprising 2 Harrier GR7 squadrons, one joint Puma/Chinook squadron, 2 RAF Regiment squadrons (Rapier and Field), and HQ Tactical Survive to Operate Wing - in all, some 2300 Service personnel plus a further 4500 civilians and dependants. Air Chief Marshal Loader flew the last Harrier aircraft out of RAF Laarbruch when the Station closed in May 1999.

A short tour in MOD Air Plans (latterly Air RP) followed, after which he was promoted to Air Commodore (1999) to lead the RAF Admin Support Study. He served (2000 to 2001) as Air Commodore Harrier, HQ 3 Group where he was responsible for RAF and RN Harriers. After a 10 month tour (2001 to 2002) in the UK Permanent Joint Headquarters (ACOS J3) he was promoted to Air Vice-Marshal and appointed as ACDS(Ops). He was appointed as Deputy Commander-in-Chief Strike Command, in the rank of Air Marshal, in June 2004. He was promoted to Air Chief Marshal in February 2007 and appointed as the first Commander-in-Chief of Air Command on 01 April 2007.

Military offices
Preceded by
Sir Glenn Torpy		 Deputy Commander-in-Chief Strike Command
2004–2007		 Succeeded by
Iain McNicoll
New title
Command established (Joe French as a Commander-in-Chief Strike Command)
 Commander-in-Chief Air Command
2007–		 Incumbent