Air Member for Personnel
Encyclopedia
The Air Member for Personnel (AMP) is the senior Royal Air Force
officer who is responsible for personnel matters and is a member of the Air Force Board
. He is in charge of all aspects of recruiting, non-operational flying and ground training, career management, welfare, terms and conditions of service, and resettlement for RAF regular, reserve and civilian staffs worldwide.
The current Air Member for Personnel is double-hatted as Deputy Commander-in-Chief
Air Command
with responsibility for No. 22 Group RAF
and RAF personnel management functions.
. The first incumbent was Major-General Godfrey Paine. Some time in April or June 1919, the post was downgraded to Director of Personnel within the Department of the Chief of the Air Staff and the incumbent ceased to sit on the Air Council. However, in 1923 the appointment of Director of Personnel was upgraded to that of Air Member for Personnel and re-appointed to the Air Council.
On 1 April 1994, at the establishments of Personnel and Training Command, the new Air Officer Commanding
in Chief was also appointed as Air Member for Personnel. Upon the merger of Personnel and Training Command with Strike Command
to form RAF Air Command
on 1 April 2007, the post of AOC Personnel and Training was re-designated as Deputy Commander-in-Chief
Personnel (DCinC Pers), retaining the responsibility to Chief of the Air Staff as Air Member for Personnel.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
officer who is responsible for personnel matters and is a member of the Air Force Board
Air Force Board
The Air Force Board of the Defence Council is responsible for the management of the Royal Air Force.Prior to the creation of the current UK Ministry of Defence in 1964, the administration of the RAF and its personnel was undertaken by the Air Force Council, part of the Air Ministry...
. He is in charge of all aspects of recruiting, non-operational flying and ground training, career management, welfare, terms and conditions of service, and resettlement for RAF regular, reserve and civilian staffs worldwide.
The current Air Member for Personnel is double-hatted as Deputy Commander-in-Chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
Air Command
RAF Air Command
Air Command is the only Command currently active in the Royal Air Force. It was formed by the merger of Royal Air Force Strike and Personnel and Training Commands on 1 April 2007, and has its headquarters at RAF High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire....
with responsibility for No. 22 Group RAF
No. 22 Group RAF
Number 22 Group is one of only three groups currently active in the Royal Air Force, falling under the responsibility of Deputy Commander-in-Chief in Air Command. Its current full title is Number 22 Group and it is responsible for RAF training policy and controlling the Royal Air Force College...
and RAF personnel management functions.
History
The post of Master-General of Personnel was established on 3 January 1918 and the occupant sat on the Air CouncilAir Council
Air Council was the governing body of the Royal Air Force until the merger of the Air Ministry with the other armed forces ministries to form the Ministry of Defence. It was succeeded by the Air Force Board.- Composition :...
. The first incumbent was Major-General Godfrey Paine. Some time in April or June 1919, the post was downgraded to Director of Personnel within the Department of the Chief of the Air Staff and the incumbent ceased to sit on the Air Council. However, in 1923 the appointment of Director of Personnel was upgraded to that of Air Member for Personnel and re-appointed to the Air Council.
On 1 April 1994, at the establishments of Personnel and Training Command, the new Air Officer Commanding
Air Officer Commanding
Air Officer Commanding is a title given in the air forces of Commonwealth nations to an air officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, an air vice marshal might be the AOC 38 Group...
in Chief was also appointed as Air Member for Personnel. Upon the merger of Personnel and Training Command with Strike Command
RAF Strike Command
The Royal Air Force's Strike Command was the military formation which controlled the majority of the United Kingdom's bomber and fighter aircraft from 1968 until 2007: it was merged with Personnel and Training Command to form the single Air Command. It latterly consisted of two formations - No. 1...
to form RAF Air Command
RAF Air Command
Air Command is the only Command currently active in the Royal Air Force. It was formed by the merger of Royal Air Force Strike and Personnel and Training Commands on 1 April 2007, and has its headquarters at RAF High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire....
on 1 April 2007, the post of AOC Personnel and Training was re-designated as Deputy Commander-in-Chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
Personnel (DCinC Pers), retaining the responsibility to Chief of the Air Staff as Air Member for Personnel.
Masters-General of Personnel
- 3 January 1918 Major-General G M PaineGodfrey PaineRear Admiral Sir Godfrey Marshall Paine KCB MVO was a senior commander in the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Air Force in the early part of the 20th century...
- 22 August 1918 Major-General W S BranckerSefton BranckerAir Vice-Marshal Sir William Sefton Brancker KCB AFC , commonly known as Sir Sefton Brancker, was a pioneer in British civil and military aviation.-Early life:...
- 1919 Post vacant
Directors of Personnel
- 1919 Rear AdmiralRear AdmiralRear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
C F LambertCecil LambertAdmiral Sir Cecil Foley Lambert KCB was a Royal Navy admiral during World War I.-Naval career:Born the son of Sir Henry Lambert, 6th Baronet and Eliza Catherine Hervey, Cecil Lambert joined the Royal Navy... - 1 April 1920 Air Vice-MarshalAir Vice-MarshalAir vice-marshal is a two-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in...
J F A HigginsJohn Frederick Andrews HigginsAir Marshal Sir John Frederick Andrews Higgins KCB, KBE, DSO, AFC, RAF was a senior officer in the Royal Flying Corps and a senior commander in the Royal Air Force in the first half of the 20th century.-RAF career:... - 1921 unknown
- January or February 1922 Air CommodoreAir CommodoreAir commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
, later Air Vice-Marshal, O SwannOliver SwannAir Vice Marshal Sir Oliver Swann KCB, CBE, RAF , born Oliver Schwann, was a leading figure in the Royal Naval Air Service and senior commander in the Royal Air Force during the first half of the 20th century....
Air Members for Personnel
The following have held the post:- 1923 Air Vice-Marshal O SwannOliver SwannAir Vice Marshal Sir Oliver Swann KCB, CBE, RAF , born Oliver Schwann, was a leading figure in the Royal Naval Air Service and senior commander in the Royal Air Force during the first half of the 20th century....
- 27 November 1923 Air Vice-Marshal Sir Philip GamePhilip GameAir Vice-Marshal Sir Philip Woolcott Game GCB, GCVO, GBE, KCMG, DSO was a British Royal Air Force commander, who later served as Governor of New South Wales and Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis...
- 1 January 1929 Air Chief MarshalAir Chief MarshalAir chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Sir John SalmondJohn SalmondMarshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Maitland Salmond, GCB, CMG, CVO, DSO and Bar was a British military officer who rose to high rank in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I... - 1 January 1930 Air Vice-Marshal Sir Tom Webb-BowenTom Webb-BowenAir Vice-Marshal Sir Tom Ince Webb-Bowen KCB, CMG, RAF was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during the first half of the 20th century.-RAF career:...
- 26 September 1931 Air MarshalAir MarshalAir marshal is a three-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Sir Edward EllingtonEdward Leonard EllingtonMarshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Edward Leonard Ellington GCB, CMG, CBE was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force... - 22 May 1933 Post Vacant
- 31 July 1933 Air Vice-Marshal F W BowhillFrederick BowhillAir Chief Marshal Sir Frederick William Bowhill, GBE, KCB, CMG, DSO & Bar was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force before and during World War II.-RAF career:...
- 1 July 1937 Air Marshal Sir William MitchellWilliam Mitchell (RAF officer)Air Chief Marshal Sir William Gore Sutherland Mitchell, KCB, CBE, DSO, MC, AFC was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force and the first RAF officer to hold the post of Black Rod.-RAF career:...
- 1 February 1939 Air Marshal C F A PortalCharles Portal, 1st Viscount Portal of HungerfordMarshal of the Royal Air Force Charles Frederick Algernon Portal, 1st Viscount Portal of Hungerford KG GCB OM DSO & Bar MC was a senior Royal Air Force officer and an advocate of strategic bombing...
- 3 April 1940 Air Marshal Sir Leslie GossageLeslie GossageAir Marshal Sir Ernest Leslie Gossage KCB, CVO, DSO, MC . He was a former artillery officer who become a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps and later a senior officer in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War...
- 1 December 1940 Air Marshal Sir Philip BabingtonPhilip BabingtonAir Marshal Sir Philip Babington KCB MC AFC was a Royal Air Force officer who became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Flying Training Command.-RAF career:...
- 17 August 1942 Air Marshal Sir Bertine SuttonBertine SuttonAir Marshal Sir Bertine Entwisle Sutton KBE, CB, DSO, MC, RAF was a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I and a senior officer in the Royal Air Force from the 1920s to the 1940s.-Early life:...
- 5 April 1945 Air Marshal Sir John SlessorJohn SlessorMarshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Cotesworth Slessor GCB, DSO, MC was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force . A pilot in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I, he held operational commands in World War II and served in the RAF's most senior post, Chief of the Air Staff, from 1950 to...
- 1 October 1947 Air Marshal Sir Hugh SaundersHugh SaundersAir Chief Marshal Sir Hugh William Lumsden Saunders GCB KBE MC DFC and Bar MM RAF was a South African who rose through the ranks to become a senior Royal Air Force commander.-RAF career:...
- 31 October 1949 Air Chief Marshal Sir Leslie HollinghurstLeslie Norman HollinghurstAir Chief Marshal Sir Leslie Norman Hollinghurst GBE, KCB, DFC , was a British First World War Flying Ace who later became an Air Chief Marshal in the RAF.-Involvement in the First World War:...
- 1 November 1952 Air Marshal Sir Francis FogartyFrancis FogartyAir Chief Marshal Sir Francis Joseph Fogarty GBE KCB DFC AFC was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during World War II and also in the post-War years. During World War I he served as a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps...
- 1 January 1957 Air Marshal Sir John WhitleyJohn Whitley (RAF officer)Air Marshal Sir John Rene Whitley KBE CB DSO AFC & Bar was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during World War II and also in the post-War years.-RAF career:...
- 1 April 1959 Air Chief Marshal Sir Hubert PatchHubert PatchAir Chief Marshal Sir Hubert Leonard Patch KCB CBE RAF was a senior Royal Air Force commander.-RAF career:Patch joined the Royal Air Force as a flight cadet in 1923 and served in World War II....
- 1 October 1959 Air Marshal Sir Arthur McDonaldArthur McDonaldAir Marshal Sir Arthur William Baynes McDonald KCB AFC RAF was a Royal Air Force and Royal Pakistan Air Force officer who held senior command positions in the 1950s.-RAF career:...
- 11 December 1961 Air Marshal Sir Walter CheshireWalter CheshireAir Chief Marshal Sir Walter Graemes Cheshire GBE KCB RAF was a senior Royal Air Force intelligence officer during World War II and a senior commander in the in the 1950s and early 1960s.-RAF career:...
- 22 February 1965 Air Marshal Sir David LeeDavid Lee (RAF officer)Air Chief Marshal Sir David John Pryer Lee GBE CB RAF was a senior Royal Air Force officer during World War II and a senior commander in the in the 1950s and early 1960s.-RAF career:...
- 18 March 1968 Air Marshal Sir Andrew HumphreyAndrew HumphreyMarshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Andrew Henry Humphrey GCB, OBE, DFC, AFC, RAF was a senior commander in the British Royal Air Force...
- 18 March 1970 Air Marshal Sir Lewis HodgesLewis HodgesAir Chief Marshal Sir Lewis Macdonald Hodges KCB, CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, DL was a pilot for Special Operations Executive in the Second World War, and later achieved high command in the Royal Air Force and NATO....
- 25 April 1973 Air Marshal Sir Harold MartinHarold Brownlow MartinAir Marshal Sir Harold Brownlow Morgan "Micky" Martin, KCB, DSO & Bar, DFC & Two Bars, AFC was an Australian pilot in the Royal Air Force....
- 5 October 1974 Air Marshal Sir Neil CameronNeil Cameron, Baron Cameron of BalhousieMarshal of the Royal Air Force Neil Cameron, Baron Cameron of Balhousie, KT, GCB, CBE, DSO, DFC was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force...
- 5 June 1976 Air Marshal Sir John AikenJohn AikenAir Chief Marshal Sir John Alexander Carlisle Aiken KCB was Commander of British forces in Cyprus at the time of the Turkish invasion of the island in 1974.-RAF career:...
- 25 February 1978 Air Marshal Sir John Gingell
- 3 May 1980 Air Marshal Sir Charles NessCharles NessAir Marshal Sir Charles Ernest Ness KCB CBE RAF was a senior Royal Air Force commander.-RAF career:Ness joined the Royal Air Force in 1943 and served as an observer during World War II. In 1965 he became Officer Commanding the RAF Steamer Point in Aden where he had to cope with the growing...
- 7 May 1983 Air Marshal Sir Thomas KennedyThomas Kennedy (RAF officer)Air Chief Marshal Sir Thomas Lawrie Kennedy GCB AFC DL is a former Royal Air Force officer who became Deputy Commander of RAF Strike Command.-RAF career:...
- 1986 Air Marshal Sir Anthony SkingsleyAnthony SkingsleyAir Chief Marshal Sir Anthony Gerald Skingsley GBE KCB RAF is a former senior Royal Air Force commander.-RAF career:Educated at St Bartholomew's School in Newbury and the University of Cambridge, Skingsley joined the Royal Air Force in 1955...
- 20 March 1987 Air Marshal Sir Laurence JonesLaurence JonesAir Marshal Sir Laurence Alfred Jones KCB AFC RAF was a senior Royal Air Force commander.-RAF career:Educated at Trinity School, Jones joined the Royal Air Force in 1951. He was made Officer Commanding No. 8 Squadron in 1961 and Officer Commanding No. 92 Squadron in 1967...
- 25 October 1989 Air Marshal Sir David Parry-EvansDavid Parry-EvansAir Marshal Sir David George Parry-Evans GCB CBE RAF is a former senior Royal Air Force commander.-RAF career:Educated at Berkhamsted School, Parry-Evans joined the Royal Air Force in 1956. He became Officer Commanding No. 214 Squadron in 1974 and Station Commander at RAF Marham in 1975...
- April 1991 Air Marshal Sir Roger PalinRoger PalinAir Chief Marshal Sir Roger Hewlett Palin KCB OBE RAF is a former senior Royal Air Force commander.-RAF career:Educated at Canford School and St John's College, Cambridge, Palin was commissioned into the King's Royal Rifle Corps in 1958. He later transferred to the Royal Air Force and became...
- 16 April 1993 Air Marshal Sir Andrew WilsonAndrew Wilson (RAF officer)Air Chief Marshal Sir Ronald Andrew Fellowes Wilson KCB AFC FRAes RAF often known as Sir Andrew Wilson and sometimes known informally as Sir Sandy Wilson is a retired senior Royal Air Force officer.-RAF career:...
- 1 May 1995 Air Marshal Sir David CousinsDavid CousinsAir Chief Marshal Sir David Cousins KCB AFC BA RAF is a retired senior Royal Air Force commander.-RAF career:He joined the RAF in 1961 and spent three years at RAF College Cranwell. He then had a number of operational flying tours, initially flying Lightnings in the air defence role in the UK and...
- 7 August 1998 Anthony BagnallAnthony BagnallAir Chief Marshal Sir Anthony John Crowther "Tony" Bagnall, GBE, KCB, FRAeS is a retired senior Royal Air Force officer and former Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff.- Flying career :...
- March 2000 Air Marshal Sir John DayJohn Day (RAF officer)Air Chief Marshal Sir John Romney Day KCB, OBE, ADC, BSc is a retired senior Royal Air Force commander and a military advisor to BAE Systems.-Early life and education:...
- 20 March 2001 Air Marshal Sir Christopher CovilleChristopher CovilleAir Marshal Sir Christopher Charles Cotton Coville KCB BA FCIPD FRAeS RAF is a retired senior Royal Air Force commander.-RAF career:...
- 25 April 2003 Air Marshal Sir Joe French
- 6 January 2006 Air Marshal Barry ThorntonBarry ThorntonAir Marshal Sir Barry Michael Thornton KCB, MSc, CEng, FIMechE, FCMI, FRAeS, RAF was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force.-RAF career:Educated at Baines Grammar School and the University of Nottingham, Thornton joined the Royal Air Force in 1976...
- 1 April 2007 Air Marshal Sir Stephen DaltonStephen DaltonAir Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Gary George Dalton, KCB, BSc, FRAeS, RAF is the current Chief of the Air Staff and professional head of the Royal Air Force.-RAF career:...
- 1 April 2009 Air Marshal Simon BryantSimon BryantAir Chief Marshal Sir Simon Bryant KCB CBE is a Royal Air Force officer, currently serving as Commander-in-Chief of Air Command, and the second-most senior officer in the service...
- 18 June 2010 Air Marshal Andy PulfordAndy PulfordAir Marshal Andrew Douglas Pulford CBE is a Royal Air Force officer, currently serving as Deputy Commander-in-Chief Personnel at Air Command and also as Air Member for Personnel.-Service career:...