Ian Stewart (RAF)
Encyclopedia
Air Commodore
Ian R W Stewart, BSc
FRAeS
RAF, is the United Kingdom National Military Representative, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
.
Warrant Officer in the CCF (RAF) Section based there, he studied Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering at Southampton University as an Acting Pilot Officer
with an RAF University Cadetship.
Having completed Officer Training at RAF Cranwell
in 1980 he remained to complete basic flying training before moving on to RAF Valley
for advanced training. He was selected to become an instructor and after completing Central Flying School training at RAF Leeming
, he was posted to RAF Linton-on-Ouse
in 1983 as a Qualified Flying Instructor where he flew over 1000 hours on the Jet Provost basic trainer.
In 1986 he converted to the Phantom FGR2 and served on 92 Squadron, RAF Wildenrath
in Germany, as the Squadron Qualified Flying Instructor. He moved back to 228 Operational Conversion Unit at RAF Leuchars
in 1989 before converting to fly the Tornado F3.
In 1992 he moved from Leuchars to RAF Coningsby
and joined the Tornado F3 Operational Conversion Unit 56 (R) Squadron
as a flight commander. In 1994 he joined the staff at 11 Group Headquarters at RAF Bentley Priory, serving on the Air Defence training desk.
At the end of 1996 he completed the Joint Service Defence College course at Greenwich. He then commanded the Flying Training Development Wing at RAF Halton
where he was responsible for devising a training strategy for fast jet pilots.
In 1999 he served in the Defence Crisis Management Centre in MOD
as a Kosovo
briefing officer and completed a short tour within the former Directorate of Public Relations (RAF). From April 2000 to October 2002 he was the Officer Commanding 56 (R) Squadron at RAF Coningsby.
After achieving over 1000 flying hours on the Tornado F3 he joined the UK Permanent Joint Headquarters at Northwood as the J5 Plans SO1 Deployable Liaison Officer and was a member of the Operation TELIC
planning staff responsible for the UK's contribution to Coalition operations in Iraq.
In 2003 he was posted to Ramstein Air Base
, Germany, where he served as the A3 Division Head and United Kingdom Senior National Representative within the NATO Component Command Air Headquarters. In early 2004 he served as Assistant Chief of Staff (Air) within the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, Afghanistan, and was awarded the NATO Meritorious Service Medal in 2006 for services to NATO.
Air Commodore Stewart is the Chairman of the 56 Squadron Association and the Chair of Trustees of the RAF Cranwell Kidzone Childcare Centre. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society
(FRAeS) in 2009.
from 2006 until May 2008. In May 2008, he became Commandant Air Cadets, replacing Air Commodore
Gordon Moulds
. After two years as Commandant, Stewart handed over the baton of command to Air Commodore
Barbara Cooper
in May 2010. His first role with the ACO since leaving as a CCF (RAF Section) CWO in 1979 was as the guest of honour at Cumbria and North Lancashire's annual dinner in Morecombe, a few weeks before taking up his appointmentas Commandant Air Cadets.
on 24 May 2010.
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Ian R W Stewart, BSc
BSC
BSC is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:Science and technology* Bachelor of Science , an undergraduate degree* Base Station Controller, part of a mobile phone network; see: Base Station subsystem...
FRAeS
Royal Aeronautical Society
The Royal Aeronautical Society, also known as the RAeS, is a multidisciplinary professional institution dedicated to the global aerospace community.-Function:...
RAF, is the United Kingdom National Military Representative, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe is the central command of NATO military forces. It is located at Casteau, north of the Belgian city of Mons...
.
Military career
Air Commodore Stewart was educated at St John's School, Leatherhead where he became a CadetCadet
A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
Warrant Officer in the CCF (RAF) Section based there, he studied Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering at Southampton University as an Acting Pilot Officer
Pilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
with an RAF University Cadetship.
Having completed Officer Training at RAF Cranwell
RAF Cranwell
RAF Cranwell is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire close to the village of Cranwell, near Sleaford. It is currently commanded by Group Captain Dave Waddington...
in 1980 he remained to complete basic flying training before moving on to RAF Valley
RAF Valley
RAF Valley is a Royal Air Force station on the island of Anglesey, Wales, and which is also used as Anglesey Airport. It provides fast-jet training using the BAE Hawk and provides training for aircrew working with Search and Rescue. Unofficially the motto for RAF Valley is 'One Valley, Training...
for advanced training. He was selected to become an instructor and after completing Central Flying School training at RAF Leeming
RAF Leeming
RAF Leeming is a Royal Air Force station in North Yorkshire, UK.HRH The Duchess of Cornwall is the Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Leeming. The Station Commander is Group Captain Anthony Innes....
, he was posted to RAF Linton-on-Ouse
RAF Linton-on-Ouse
RAF Linton-on-Ouse is a Royal Air Force station at Linton-on-Ouse near York in Yorkshire, England. It is currently a major flying training centre, one of the RAF's busiest airfields...
in 1983 as a Qualified Flying Instructor where he flew over 1000 hours on the Jet Provost basic trainer.
In 1986 he converted to the Phantom FGR2 and served on 92 Squadron, RAF Wildenrath
RAF Wildenrath
The former Royal Air Force Station Wildenrath, commonly known as RAF Wildenrath, was a Royal Air Force military airbase which opened on 15 January 1952. Wildenrath was the first of four 'Clutch' stations built for the RAF in Germany during the early 1950s...
in Germany, as the Squadron Qualified Flying Instructor. He moved back to 228 Operational Conversion Unit at RAF Leuchars
RAF Leuchars
RAF Leuchars is the most northerly air defence station in the United Kingdom. It is located in Leuchars, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland, near to the university town of St Andrews.-Operations:...
in 1989 before converting to fly the Tornado F3.
In 1992 he moved from Leuchars to RAF Coningsby
RAF Coningsby
RAF Coningsby , is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England. It has been commanded by Group Captain Martin Sampson since 10 December 2010.-Operational units:...
and joined the Tornado F3 Operational Conversion Unit 56 (R) Squadron
No. 56 Squadron RAF
Number 56 Squadron is one of the oldest and most successful squadrons of the Royal Air Force, with battle honours from many of the significant air campaigns of both World War I and World War II...
as a flight commander. In 1994 he joined the staff at 11 Group Headquarters at RAF Bentley Priory, serving on the Air Defence training desk.
At the end of 1996 he completed the Joint Service Defence College course at Greenwich. He then commanded the Flying Training Development Wing at RAF Halton
RAF Halton
RAF Halton is one of the largest Royal Air Force stations in the United Kingdom, located near the village of Halton near Wendover, Buckinghamshire.HRH The Duchess of Cornwall is the Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Halton.-History:...
where he was responsible for devising a training strategy for fast jet pilots.
In 1999 he served in the Defence Crisis Management Centre in MOD
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....
as a Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
briefing officer and completed a short tour within the former Directorate of Public Relations (RAF). From April 2000 to October 2002 he was the Officer Commanding 56 (R) Squadron at RAF Coningsby.
After achieving over 1000 flying hours on the Tornado F3 he joined the UK Permanent Joint Headquarters at Northwood as the J5 Plans SO1 Deployable Liaison Officer and was a member of the Operation 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...
planning staff responsible for the UK's contribution to Coalition operations in Iraq.
In 2003 he was posted to Ramstein Air Base
Ramstein Air Base
Ramstein Air Base is a United States Air Force base in the German state of Rheinland-Pfalz. It serves as headquarters for the United States Air Forces in Europe and is also a North Atlantic Treaty Organization installation...
, Germany, where he served as the A3 Division Head and United Kingdom Senior National Representative within the NATO Component Command Air Headquarters. In early 2004 he served as Assistant Chief of Staff (Air) within the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, Afghanistan, and was awarded the NATO Meritorious Service Medal in 2006 for services to NATO.
Air Commodore Stewart is the Chairman of the 56 Squadron Association and the Chair of Trustees of the RAF Cranwell Kidzone Childcare Centre. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society
Royal Aeronautical Society
The Royal Aeronautical Society, also known as the RAeS, is a multidisciplinary professional institution dedicated to the global aerospace community.-Function:...
(FRAeS) in 2009.
GC OACTU and Commandant Air Cadets
His last assignment was as the head of the Officer and Aircrew Cadet Training Unit at RAF CranwellRAF Cranwell
RAF Cranwell is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire close to the village of Cranwell, near Sleaford. It is currently commanded by Group Captain Dave Waddington...
from 2006 until May 2008. In May 2008, he became Commandant Air Cadets, replacing Air Commodore
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Gordon Moulds
Gordon Moulds
Air Commodore Gordon Moulds, CBE is a Senior Royal Air Force Officer who recently finished a tour as Commander of Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan.-Military career:...
. After two years as Commandant, Stewart handed over the baton of command to Air Commodore
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Barbara Cooper
Barbara Cooper (RAF officer)
Air Commodore Barbara Cooper CBE is a British Royal Air Force officer and the current Commandant of the Air Cadet Organisation . She was promoted to Air Commodore in 2008 and became the RAF's highest-ranking female. She became the Assistant Chief of Staff at Air Command headquarters...
in May 2010. His first role with the ACO since leaving as a CCF (RAF Section) CWO in 1979 was as the guest of honour at Cumbria and North Lancashire's annual dinner in Morecombe, a few weeks before taking up his appointmentas Commandant Air Cadets.
UKMR (SHAPE)
Stewart assumed his appointment at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers EuropeSupreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe is the central command of NATO military forces. It is located at Casteau, north of the Belgian city of Mons...
on 24 May 2010.