Michael Harwood (RAF officer)

Air Vice-Marshal Michael John Harwood CB CBE ADC (born 29 October 1958) is a senior serving Royal Air Force officer and is currently Defence Attaché and Head of the British Defence Staff - US in Washington, D.C..^[1] He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School and at King's College London (MA Defence Studies).

Harwood joined the RAF as a fast-jet pilot in 1978, initially serving as a Flying Instructor on Hawk and Harrier GR3/T4 aircraft.

Harwood has held numerous senior appointments and commands during his RAF service, including:

• Commanding Officer, 20 Squadron RAF (Harrier Operational Conversion Unit), RAF Wittering (Wg Cdr) - 1998 - 2000
• Commander British Forces (Gulf), Saudi Arabia (Gp Capt) - 2000
• Station Commander, RAF Cottesmore, (Gp Capt) - 2001
• Deployed Operating Base Commander, Kuwait (Op TELIC) (Gp Capt) - 2003
• Ministry of Defence Public Relations Directorate
• Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ(UK))
• RAF Strike Command, RAF High Wycombe
• Assistant Commandant (Air), Joint Services Command and Staff College
• Chief of the ISAF Detachment, CENTAF Combined Air Operations Centre, Al Udeid (Air Cdre) - Sep 07.^[2]
• Air Officer Commanding 83 Expeditionary Air Group, Al Udeid (Air Cdre) - 2008

Harwood was promoted Air Vice-Marshal and appointed Head of the British Defence Staff - US / Defence Attaché in November 2008.^[3] He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2012 New Year Honours.^[4]

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