Philip Robinson (RAF officer)

Last updated

Philip Robinson
Air Vice-Marshal Philip Robinson 2023 (cropped).jpg
Air Vice-Marshal Robinson in 2022
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branch Royal Air Force
Years of service1992–present
Rank Air Vice Marshal
Commands No. 11 Group RAF (2021–23)
Combined Air and Space Operations Centre (2020–21)
RAF Odiham (2015–17)
Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing (2010–12)
No. 7 Squadron RAF (c. 2005–06)
Battles / wars
Awards Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Flying Cross & Two Bars

Air Vice-Marshal Philip Jeremy Robinson, CBE , DFC & Two Bars is a decorated British pilot and senior Royal Air Force officer.

Contents

RAF career

Robinson was commissioned into the Royal Air Force on 7 May 1992 as an acting pilot officer; [1] he was regraded to pilot officer on 7 May 1993. [2] He was promoted to flying officer on 7 May 1994, [3] and to flight lieutenant on 7 November 1997. [4]

Having completed his flying training, Robinson was posted to No. 18 Squadron RAF who were then based in Germany. [5] He returned to England in 1997 and was posted to No. 7 Squadron RAF: he was made commanding officer of the squadron in 2005. [5] From 2010 to 2012, he was commanding officer of the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing. [5]

Robinson flew Chinooks with the RAF, [6] and also the Army Air Corps' Lynx. [5] He flew in operations in Bosnia, Albania, Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Iraq, Lebanon and Afghanistan. [7] He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) three times for service during the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War. [8]

Robinson was promoted to group captain on 10 September 2012. [9] From October 2015 to October 2017, he was the Commanding Officer of RAF Odiham and the UK Chinook Force Commander. [5] [10] [11]

He is a graduate of the United States' Capstone Military Leadership Program, and the United Kingdom's Advanced Command and Staff Course and the Higher Command and Staff Course. [7]

Robinson served as Assistant Chief of Staff at the Permanent Joint Headquarters from April 2019, before being appointed Director Combined Air and Space Operations Centre at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, in December 2020. [8] In December 2021, he was promoted to air vice-marshal and took up the appointment of air officer commanding (AOC) No. 11 Group RAF. [12] In September 2023, he moved post to become director of the National Defence Plan Development Team. [13] In March 2024, he will become Chief of Staff (Operations) at Permanent Joint Headquarters. [14]

Honours

Group Captain Robinson in 2017 Philip Jeremy Robinson, OBE, DFC (cropped).jpg
Group Captain Robinson in 2017

On 29 October 2002, Robinson was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Afghanistan during the period 1st October 2001 to 31st March 2002". [15] On 31 October 2003, he was awarded a Bar to his DFC "for gallant and distinguished services in Iraq during the period 19th March to 19th April 2003". [16] On 25 July 2008, he was awarded a second Bar to his DFC "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Afghanistan during the period 1st October 2007 to 31st March 2008". [17]

He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2013 Birthday Honours, [18] and advanced to Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2021 New Year Honours. [19]

Robinson is a recipient of the Royal Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with one clasp. [20]

Related Research Articles

Air Marshal David Walker, was a senior Royal Air Force officer. He was the Deputy Commander, Allied Joint Force Command at Brunssum in the Netherlands from 2011 to 2013, having previously served for over three years as Deputy Commander, Allied Air Component Command at Ramstein in Germany. Prior to that appointment he was Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Group in the United Kingdom.

Air Chief Marshal Sir John Wakeling Baker, was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force in the mid-20th century.

Air Marshal Sir Thomas Melling Williams, was an ace pilot in the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War, scoring nine aerial victories, and a senior officer in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War and the following years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Garwood</span>

Air Marshal Sir Richard Frank Garwood, is a retired senior Royal Air Force officer.

Air Chief Marshal Sir John Barraclough was a Royal Air Force pilot during the Second World War who went on to become Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barry North</span>

Air Marshal Sir Barry Mark North, is a retired senior Royal Air Force officer, who served as Deputy Commander (Personnel) at RAF Air Command. A helicopter pilot, North has held command appointments at all levels, notably No. 78 Squadron in the Falkland Islands, the Special Forces Flight as a squadron leader and the newly established No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group in the Middle East as an air commodore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Pulford</span>

Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Douglas Pulford, is a retired senior Royal Air Force (RAF) commander. A helicopter pilot with operational service in Northern Ireland, the Falklands War and Iraq War, Pulford commanded RAF Odiham and No. 2 Group, and served as Assistant Chief of Defence Staff Operations, before taking up the post of Deputy Commander-in-Chief Personnel at Air Command and Air Member for Personnel in 2010. He became Chief of the Air Staff on 31 July 2013, retiring from the Royal Air Force on 12 July 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denis Crowley-Milling</span> Royal Air Force Air Marshal (1919-1996)

Air Marshal Sir Denis Crowley-Milling, was a Second World War fighter pilot and later an air officer in the Royal Air Force.

Air Vice Marshal Colin Peter Brown & Bar was a Scottish officer who began his career in the Royal Naval Air Service during the First World War, before transferring to the Royal Air Force (RAF). A flying ace credited with 14 aerial victories, he remained in the RAF and served throughout the Second World War, retiring in 1954.

Air Vice Marshal Francis Frederic Inglis, was an officer in the Royal Air Force who became the head of RAF Intelligence Staff during the Second World War, reporting to Winston Churchill. In 1942 he was sent to America, where he successfully persuaded President Franklin D. Roosevelt to direct the main American war effort against Germany rather than Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Hillier</span>

Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen John Hillier, is a retired senior Royal Air Force officer, who served as Chief of the Air Staff from 2016 to 2019. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for actions in the Gulf in 1999 and was awarded the United States Bronze Star Medal for service in the Iraq War. He went on to be Air Officer Commanding No. 2 Group, Director Information Superiority at the Ministry of Defence, Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Capability) and finally Chief of the Air Staff from July 2016. He was appointed chair of the Civil Aviation Authority in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Stringer</span>

Air Marshal Edward Jackson Stringer, is a retired Royal Air Force officer. Since April 2018 he has served as Director-General of the Defence Academy. He also served as Director-General of Joint Force Development, Strategic Command from April 2018 to March 2021. He served as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff from April 2013 to January 2015, and as Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Operations) from March 2015 to 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Reynolds (RAF officer)</span>

Air Marshal Sean Keith Paul Reynolds, is a senior Royal Auxiliary Air Force officer who serves as Air Officer for Northern Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harvey Smyth</span> Northern Irish Royal Air Force officer

Air Marshal Harvey Smyth, is a senior Northern Irish Royal Air Force officer, who has been the Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff since March 2024. Previously, he served as Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Group (2018–2020) and Air and Space Commander (2022–2024). Between February 2020 and August 2022, he took up the new post of Director Space, in the Ministry of Defence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allan Marshall (RAF officer)</span> Royal Air Force Air Vice-Marshal

Air Marshal Allan Paul Marshall, is a senior Royal Air Force officer, who since March 2024 has been Air and Space Commander.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Maddison</span> Royal Air Force officer

Air Marshal Richard Clark Maddison, is a senior Royal Air Force officer. He was Air Officer Commanding No. 22 Group RAF from 2020 to 2023, and then served as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff and Air Member for Personnel from May to September 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Sampson</span> Senior Royal Air Force Officer

Air Marshal Martin Elliot Sampson, is a retired senior Royal Air Force officer, last serving as UK Defence Senior Advisor to the Middle East and North Africa.

Air Vice-Marshal Frederick Desmond Hughes, was a Royal Air Force officer who served as Air Officer Commanding at No. 18 Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Shell</span>

Air Marshal Stephen Jeffrey Shell, is a senior Royal Air Force officer. He has served as director general of the Defence Safety Authority (DSA) since January 2022. He had served as director of the Military Aviation Authority from 2018 to 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Stringer (RAF officer)</span> Royal Air Force officer

Air Marshal John Jackson Stringer is a senior Royal Air Force officer. Since August 2022 he has been Deputy Commander, Allied Air Command.

References

  1. "No. 52995". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 July 1992. p. 12243.
  2. "No. 53324". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 June 1993. p. 9824.
  3. "No. 53690". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 June 1994. p. 8298.
  4. "No. 55051". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 February 1998. p. 2167.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "No 11 Group Air Officer Commanding: Air Vice-Marshal Phil Robinson CBE DFC** MA RAF". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  6. "Chinook helicopters and 150 personnel leave Hampshire base". Southern Daily Echo. 24 October 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  7. 1 2 "Visiting Fellows: AIR COMMODORE PHILIP ROBINSON". The Changing Character of War Centre. University of Oxford. 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  8. 1 2 "Senior Appointments". Royal Air Force. 15 March 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  9. "No. 60325". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 November 2012. p. 21748.
  10. "RAF appointments". The Times. 6 July 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  11. "RAFALO UPDATE" (pdf). Royal Air Forces Association. February 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  12. "Senior Appointments: 30th July 2021". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  13. "Senior Appointments". Royal Air Force. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  14. "2023 Senior Appointments". raf.mod.uk. Royal Air Force. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023. Air Vice-Marshal P J Robinson CBE DFC** to be Chief of Staff Operations in March 2024 in succession to Major General M R Elviss CB MBE.
  15. "No. 57070". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 September 2003. p. 12068.
  16. "No. 58092". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 September 2006. p. 12274.
  17. "No. 58776". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 July 2008. p. 11242.
  18. "No. 60534". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 June 2013. p. 6.
  19. "No. 63218". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2020. p. N7.
  20. "No. 62445". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 October 2018. pp. 19124–19138.
Military offices
Preceded by Air Officer Commanding No. 11 Group RAF
2021–2023
Succeeded by