Air Vice-Marshal

Air Vice-Marshal

Air 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...

 Barry 'Baz' Mark North OBE

Order of the British Empire

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...

 is a senior serving Royal Air Force officer and is currently Assistant Chief of the Air Staff

Assistant Chief of the Air Staff

The Assistant Chief of the Air Staff is a senior appointment in the Royal Air Force. The incumbent is in practical terms the deputy to the head of the RAF, the Chief of the Air Staff....

, assuming this appointment on 1 March 2010.

RAF career

North joined the RAF in 1982 and has flown many thousands of hours in a wide range of support helicopters, including the Chinook. He has commanded RAF Squadrons in both the UK and the Falkland Islands

Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...

 and, as RAF Aldergrove station commander, was the senior RAF officer in Northern Ireland.

North was the first to command the newly established No 83 Expeditionary Air Group

No. 83 Group RAF

No. 83 Group was a group within the Royal Air Force's 2nd Tactical Air Force during the Second World War and the post-war era. In 2006, the group was re-established as No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group.-History:...

 in 2006, formed to control all RAF air assets within the Middle East theatre of operations, including the commitments to Op TELIC

Operation Telic

Operation TELIC was the codename under which all British military operations in Iraq were conducted between the start of the Invasion of Iraq on 19 March 2003 and the withdrawal of the last remaining British forces on 22 May 2011...

 (Iraq) and Op VERITAS

Operation Veritas

Operation Veritas was the codename used for British military operations against the Taliban government of Afghanistan in 2001. British forces played a supporting role to the American Operation Enduring Freedom. In addition, the British contribution was an important part of the overall forces deployed...

 (Afghanistan). He received the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service

Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service

The Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service is a British military award that recognises meritorious service during, or in support of, operations...

 (QCVS) in recognition of his "outstanding leadership". His Middle East tour was followed by a period as Director Air Resources and Plans within the Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)

The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....

.

North was 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...

 No 22 (Training) Group

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 Chief of Staff Training in July 2009. He became Assistant Chief of the Air Staff

Assistant Chief of the Air Staff

The Assistant Chief of the Air Staff is a senior appointment in the Royal Air Force. The incumbent is in practical terms the deputy to the head of the RAF, the Chief of the Air Staff....

on 1 March 2010.