Maria Byford

Last updated

Maria Byford
AVM Maria Byford.jpg
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Service years1991–2023
Rank Air Vice Marshal
Commands RAF Medical Services
Medical Joint Force Support
Conflicts War in Afghanistan

Air Vice-Marshal Maria Byford, is a senior retired Royal Air Force officer who served as Chief of Staff Personnel and Air Secretary from February 2020 to July 2023.

RAF career

Byford studied dentistry at King's College London, graduating with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree in 1991. [1] That year, she joined the Royal Air Force (RAF). [2] After a career in dentistry, she became Head of the Personnel Division at HQ Surgeon-General in 2011. [2] Following deployment as commander of Medical Joint Force Support in Afghanistan in 2014, she became Head of Future Healthcare at HQ Surgeon-General in 2015 and Head of RAF Medical Services in 2019. [3] [4] She was appointed Honorary Dental Surgeon to the Queen (QHDS) in 2015. [2]

In February 2020 Byford was appointed Air Secretary with effect from 24 February 2020. [5] She was involved in a RAF recruitment campaign to promote racial and gender diversity in the service, which Sky News alleged discriminated against white men. [6] She retired from the RAF in July 2023. [7]

References

  1. ↑ "Chief of Staff Personnel and Air Secretary: Air Vice-Marshal Maria Byford QHDS". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Speakers: Air Commodore Maria Byford, Institute of Defence and Government Affairs
  3. ↑ "Sir Arthur Marshall Lecture". Cambridgeshire Aeronautical Society. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  4. ↑ "Double first for Air Commodore Byford". RAF News. 12 July 2009. p. 12. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  5. ↑ "Senior Appointments 10 February 2020". raf.mod.uk. Royal Air Force. 10 February 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  6. ↑ "White men who failed to join RAF furious after no one is sanctioned over botched diversity drive". Sky News. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  7. ↑ "Senior appointments". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
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