Stuart Atha

Stuart David Atha
Born Ayrshire
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Air Force
Rank Air Vice Marshal
Unit 1 Group
Commands held No 1 Group
83 EAG
RAF Coningsby
3 (Fighter) Squadron
Battles/wars Op DELIBERATE FORCE
Op ALLIED FORCE
Op TELIC
Awards Distinguished Service Order

Air Vice Marshal Stuart David Atha DSO ADC is a serving senior officer of the Royal Air Force and is currently Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group.[1]

Military career

Atha joined the RAF after graduating from Glasgow University in 1984. He was commissioned as a pilot officer on 14 October 1984,[2] promoted to flying officer on 14 April 1985 (with seniority from 14 October 1982),[3] flight lieutenant on 14 April 1986,[4] and squadron leader on 1 July 1995.[5] He served as a Fast Jet Qualified Flying Instructor on the Hawk aircraft, before completing tours in Germany and the UK, flying the Harrier GR7 on No 1 (Fighter) and No IV (Army Cooperation) Squadrons. Following a tour as the Harrier tactics specialist at the Air Warfare Centre, Atha attended the Advanced Command and Staff Course at Bracknell (1999–2000), and was promoted wing commander on 1 July 1999.[6] He then assumed command of No 3 (Fighter) Squadron, again flying the Harrier GR7.

Following his command tour, Atha joined the Ministry of Defence Directorate of Operational Capability for a short spell before becoming the Personal Staff Officer to the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup. He was promoted group captain on 1 January 2005.[7] In early 2006, he attended the Higher Command and Staff Course. Atha was station commander of RAF Coningsby from 1 December 2006 - 15 December 2008.

Atha is a veteran of the conflicts in both the Balkans and Gulf with combat missions flown in Operation DELIBERATE FORCE (Bosnia 1995), Operation ALLIED FORCE (Kosovo 1999) and Operation TELIC (Iraq 2003). On 31 October 2003 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership in Iraq.[8] He was appointed Aide-de-Camp to the Queen on 12 February 2007.[9]

Atha's tour in the Middle East was followed in April 2010 with an appointment as Head of Joint Capability at the Ministry of Defence.[10] He was promoted Air Vice Marshal and appointed Air Officer Commanding No.1 Group RAF on 12 Aug 11[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ HQ No.1 Group Web Site retrieved 19 Aug 11
  2. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 50006. p. 512. 14 January 1985. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
  3. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 50128. p. 7060. 20 May 1985. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
  4. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 50515. p. 6491. 12 May 1986. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
  5. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 54091. p. 9202. 3 July 1995. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
  6. ^ London Gazette: no. 55543. p. 7308. 6 July 1999. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
  7. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 57521. p. 16360. 4 January 2005. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
  8. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 57100. p. 4. 31 October 2003. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
  9. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 58245. p. 2084. 13 February 2007. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
  10. ^ Royal Air Force Air Rank Appointments List 3/09 retrieved 8 April 2009
  11. ^ Royal Air Force Air Rank Appointments List 02-11 retrieved 19 Aug 11.
Military offices
Preceded by
A D Stevenson		 Officer Commanding No 3 (Fighter) Squadron
2000 – 2004		 Succeeded by
B Hedley
Preceded by
R W Judson		 Station Commander RAF Coningsby
2006 – 2008		 Succeeded by
J Hitchcock
Preceded by
A S Barmby		 Air Officer Commanding No 83 Expeditionary Air Group
2009 –		 Succeeded by
Air Commodore Ashley Stevenson
Preceded by
Brigadier Abrahams		 Head of Joint Capability
2009 –2011		 Succeeded by
Air Commodore E J Stringer CBE
Preceded by
AVM Greg Bagwell		 Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group
2011 –		 Incumbent