Ian Gale

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Ian Gale
AVM Ian Gale (cropped).jpg
Nickname(s)Windy
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branch Royal Air Force
Years of service1989–2024
Rank Air Marshal
Service number 8304212Q
Commands RAF Lossiemouth (2011–13)
No. 31 Squadron (2008–10)
Battles / wars Iraq War
War in Afghanistan
Operation Ellamy
Awards Companion of the Order of the Bath
Member of the Order of the British Empire
Alma mater King's College London
Open University

Air Marshal Ian David Gale, CB , MBE is a retired officer in the Royal Air Force, serving as Director-General of Joint Force Development, Strategic Command from 2021 to 2024. [1]

Contents

Early life and education

Gale was educated at Sir Thomas Picton School, a comprehensive school in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales. He joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) after finishing school. He studied for a Master of Arts degree in defence studies and international relations at King's College London, graduating in 2006. He studied for a Master of Business Administration with the Open University, graduating in 2012. [2]

RAF career

Gale joined the RAF in 1989. [2] After attending the Royal Air Force College Cranwell, he was commissioned as an acting pilot officer on 26 September 1989. [3] He served as a fast jet pilot and weapons instructor from 1989 to 2005 and, [2] in the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours, was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire. [4]

Gale became officer commanding No. 31 Squadron in 2008, [5] and station commander at RAF Lossiemouth in 2011. [6] After operational service as Deputy Air Component Commander for Operation Ellamy, [7] he became Assistant Chief of Staff for command, control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance programmes in 2015. [8]

In April 2019, Gale was promoted to air vice-marshal and appointed Assistant Chief of the Air Staff. [1] In April 2021, he was promoted to air marshal and appointed Director-General of Joint Force Development, Strategic Command. [1] He retired from the Air Force on 24 April 2024. [9] Gale was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2024 New Year Honours. [10]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "2021 Senior Appointments". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "Gale, Air Vice-Marshal Ian David, Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Ministry of Defence, since 2019". Who's Who 2021 . 1 December 2020.
  3. ↑ "No. 52045". The London Gazette . 12 February 1990. p. 1974.
  4. ↑ "No. 57315". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 2004. p. 6.
  5. ↑ "Panavia Tornado". Simply Planes. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  6. ↑ "Community saved RAF Lossiemouth 'for thirty years'". Inside Moray. 15 August 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  7. ↑ "RAF boss loves job". Evening Express. 29 March 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  8. ↑ "RAF Air Power 2017". 21st Century Partnerships. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  9. ↑ "No. 64406". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 May 2024. p. 10215.
  10. ↑ "No. 64269". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2023. p. N2.
Military offices
Preceded by Station Commander RAF Lossiemouth
2011–2013		Succeeded by
Preceded by Assistant Chief of the Air Staff
2019–2021		Succeeded by
Preceded by Director-General of Joint Force Development, Strategic Command
2021–2024		Succeeded by
TBA
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