David Ridgway took over the role of Civil Secretary in July 2009.

He started with the MOD at RAF Abingdon in 1981, followed by a move in 1984 to Empress State Building in London before returning to Abingdon to work for the RAF Directorate of Training (Ground). 

In 1987 David was posted to the British Embassy, Washington D.C. working as part of the Defence Attaché support team.  He returned to UK in 1990 to take up a finance post in MOD Main Building within the newly created 2nd PUS TLB.  In 1994 he was posted to Defence Lands, Bielefeld during a period of drawdown of the Germany estate. 

In 1998 David again returned to UK to take up a post in the recently formed RAF Infrastructure Organisation based at RAF Benson.  He returned to Germany in 2002 to work with the BFG Health Service located near Monchengladbach, from where he recently returned to take up his new post with the Defence Academy.

David is married to Carol and they have two boys.  He enjoys travel and watching sport, especially football and F1.