He replaces Major General Graham Binns in the top post and heralds the beginning of the RAF’s roulement as head of this prestigious establishment.

The Staff College is a familiar environment for the Air Vice-Marshal who has served there twice before on the staff. In fact, he takes up the post of Commandant only six months after leaving as the Director of the Advanced Command and Staff Course (ACSC).  When asked what he was most looking forward to now that he was back he replied:

“The opportunity to contribute to the future.  At the Staff College, we educate those officers who will be leading Defence for many years to come - from the fields of Afghanistan now to the Service Chiefs in the Ministry of Defence in the next decade.  To be able to play a part in the development of many of our brightest and best people is an exciting privilege”.

The Air Vice-Marshal brings a wealth of experience with him, not just in the field of education but also from front line operations.  He has deployed to a number of operational theatres throughout his distinguished career, not least serving as a Tornado pilot flying combat missions during OPERATION DESERT STORM.  His broad experiences means that he has a wealth of knowledge that he understandably wants to pass on to the students.  When asked what his focus for the college would be he said:

"Without question the Strategic Defence and Security Review, the difficult state of the public finances and the Directorate of Operational Capability’s review of staff education will draw our focus inwards towards doing better what we do already do well, and doing more efficiently where we already add value to Defence.  But I intend to focus on creating a College that can deliver what the nation needs now and for years to come.  We can’t afford to become myopic, so my focus will be outward as well as inward.  We must continue to provide world-class education, we must become more agile in the way we react to the changing environment, and we must be both relevant and efficient.  The battlefield may look very different, and the global levelling of wealth and technology may shift power, but the nature of conflict will endure and our winning edge will increasingly become the quality of our people.  That’s why taking the College forward and embracing modern thinking, concepts and methods, whilst still retaining at our core the excellence of our education, is the challenge we all face.  It’s crucial work, it’s demanding, it’s invigorating and it’s hugely rewarding.  Personally, I just can’t wait to get started."