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RAF COMMAND
AND ORGANISATION
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Higher Management of the Royal
Air Force - CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is a Department of State, headed by the
Secretary of State for Defence (SofS) who implements national defence
policy and plans the expenditure of the defence budget. The MoD is the
highest level of headquarters for the Armed Forces, both administrative
and operational. All major issues of policy are referred to the SofS or
to one of his three Ministerial colleagues.
-
Minister of State for the Armed Forces
-
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for
Defence Procurement
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Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for
Veterans Affairs
Under the direction of the Defence Council
management of the Services is the responsibility
of the Service Boards, in the case of the Royal Air Force the Air Force
Board is the senior management directorate.
Air Force Board
The routine management of the Royal Air Force is the responsibility of the
Air Force Board, the composition of which is as follows:
Air Force Board Standing Committee (AFBSC)
Attended by senior RAF
commanders, the AFBSC dictates the policy required for the Royal Air Force
to function efficiently and meet the aims required by the Defence Council
and government. The Chief of the Air Staff is the chairman of the Air Force
Board Standing Committee.
Decisions made by the Defence
Council or the Air Force Board are implemented by the air staff at
various headquarters worldwide. The Chief of the Air Staff is the
officer ultimately responsible for the Royal Air Force's contribution
to the national defence effort. He maintains control through the AOC
(Air Officer Commanding), and the staff branches of each of these
headquarters.
CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF
Air Chief Marshal SGG Dalton CB BSc FRAeS
FCMI RAF
Air Chief Marshal Stephen Dalton joined the RAF after graduating with a
degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Bath University. Subsequently,
whilst based in the UK and Germany, he flew the Jaguar on three tours in
the tactical reconnaissance and ground attack roles. During these tours
he flew on exercises in Europe (Norway, Italy, France and Spain), the
USA and Canada. On completion of the Advanced Staff Course, Air Marshal
Dalton commanded No 13 Squadron flying the Tornado GR1A, during which he
was deployed on Operation JURAL flying reconnaissance missions over
Iraq; for part of the period he was the Commander British Forces JURAL
for Op SOUTHERN WATCH in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Air Chief Marshal Dalton commanded Royal Air Force Coltishall and the
RAF’s Jaguar Force for two years from September 1997. On promotion to
Air Commodore he was appointed as Director of the Eurofighter Programme
Assurance Group in the Ministry of Defence London. After attending the
Higher Command Staff Course in 2002, he was appointed the Director of
Air Operations in Ministry of Defence, a period which was dominated by
the preparation for and conduct of Operation TELIC - the UK contribution
to the multi-national operations in Iraq in 2003.
A tour followed as the Capability Manager for Information Superiority
with specific responsibilities for Command, Control and Information
Infrastructure and for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition
and Reconnaissance. In April 2004 Air Marshal Dalton was appointed
Controller Aircraft, a post which carried with it a place on the Air
Force Board and which he carried with him into his next position when,
in May 2006, he took up the appointment of Director General Typhoon in
the Ministry of Defence.
In May 2007, Air Chief Marshal Dalton was appointed Deputy Commander in
Chief Personnel and Air Member for Personnel, based at HQ Air Command,
RAF High Wycombe. In July 2009 he was appointed Chief of the Air Staff
on promotion to the rank of Air Chief Marshal.
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