Paul Luker | |
---|---|
Born | 8 July 1951 |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | Royal Air Force |
Years of service | 1968–2006 |
Rank | Air Vice-Marshal |
Commands held | Joint Helicopter Command RAF Odiham No. 7 Squadron |
Battles/wars | Gulf War Bosnian War War in Afghanistan |
Awards | Companion of the Order of the Bath Officer of the Order of the British Empire Air Force Cross Bronze Star Medal (United States) |
Air Vice-Marshal Paul Douglas Luker, CB , OBE , AFC , DL is a former Royal Air Force officer who served as Commander of Joint Helicopter Command from 2002 to 2005.
Luker joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1968, trained as a support helicopter pilot and served in Hong Kong, Northern Ireland, the Persian Gulf, the Balkans and Belize. [1] He became Officer Commanding No. 7 Squadron and then Station Commander at RAF Odiham. [2] After attending the Royal College of Defence Studies, he went on to be Director of Overseas Military Activity at the Ministry of Defence in 1998 [3] and then Commander of Joint Helicopter Command in 2002, and latterly served for seven months as Deputy Commanding General of the US-led coalition in Afghanistan before retiring in 2006. [1]
From 2006 to 2016 Luker served as Chief Executive of the Council of Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Associations, [4] Secretary General of the UK Reserve Forces Association and, for the final five years acted as Clerk to the RFCA External Scrutiny Team, drafting their annual report to Parliament. [5] He served as Chairman of Blind Veterans UK from 2017 to 2021, [6] and is a Deputy Lieutenant for Hampshire, [7] and Honorary President of the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wing of the Air Training Corps. [1]
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