David Pocock (RAF officer)

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David Pocock
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Air Force
Years of service1974–2007
Rank Air Marshal
Awards Companion of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order

Air Marshal David John Pocock, CB, CVO is a former senior Royal Air Force officer who served as Defence Services Secretary from 2004 to 2005.

Royal Air Force Aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces

The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's aerial warfare force. Formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world. Following victory over the Central Powers in 1918 the RAF emerged as, at the time, the largest air force in the world. Since its formation, the RAF has taken a significant role in British military history. In particular, it played a large part in the Second World War where it fought its most famous campaign, the Battle of Britain.

The Defence Services Secretary is a senior member of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom.

Contents

RAF career

Pocock joined the Royal Air Force in 1974. [1] He served as Officer Commanding Support Wing at the joint RAF and Army base at Akrotiri before becoming briefing officer to the Chief of the Air Staff. [1] He went on to be Group Captain in charge of the RAF estate in 1996, Air Commodore Plans at RAF Logistics Command in 1997 and Air Commodore Plans and Policy at RAF Personnel and Training Command in 1999. [1] He became Officer responsible for Defence Pay & Allowances in 2000, Head of the Service Personnel Change Programme with promotion to air vice-marshal in January 2003 before serving as Defence Services Secretary and Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel and Reserves) from 2004 to 2005. [1] He was promoted to air marshal in July 2005 and became Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel) [1] and retired in 2007. [2] He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2008 New Year Honours. [3]

Akrotiri and Dhekelia British Overseas Territory

The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia is a British Overseas Territory on the island of Cyprus. The areas, which include British military bases and installations, as well as other land, were retained by the British under the 1960 treaty of independence, signed by the United Kingdom, Greece, Turkey and representatives from the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, which granted independence to the Crown colony of Cyprus. The territory serves an important role as a station for signals intelligence and provides a vital strategic part of the United Kingdom communications gathering and monitoring network in the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom) Wikimedia list article

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) is the professional head of the Royal Air Force and a member of both the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Air Force Board. The post was created in 1918 with Major General Sir Hugh Trenchard as the first incumbent. The current and 29th Chief of the Air Staff is Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, who succeeded Sir Andrew Pulford in July 2016.

RAF Logistics Command

The Royal Air Force's Logistics Command was a command formed to provide logistics support for the RAF.

Retirement

In retirement Pocock became a Board Member of the Sector Skills Council for Central Government. [1]

The Skills for Business network is an umbrella organisation for the twenty-five Sector Skills Councils in the United Kingdom.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Board Members' Biographies". The Sector Skills Council for Central Government. Archived from the original on 19 February 2007. Retrieved 1 April 2007.
  2. Whitaker's Almanack 2008
  3. "No. 58557". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 2007. p. 2.
Military offices
Preceded by
Christopher Elliott
Defence Services Secretary
2004–2005
Succeeded by
Peter Wilkinson
Preceded by
Anthony Palmer
Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel)
2005–2007