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 Ministerial colleagues:

Minister of State for the Armed Forces
Minister of State for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for International Security Strategy
Under Secretary of State and the House of Lords Spokesman for Defence

Under the direction of the Defence Council management of Armed Forces 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:

The Secretary of State for Defence
Minister of State for the Armed Forces
Minister of State for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for International Security Strategy
Under Secretary of State and House of Lords Spokesman for Defence
Permanent Under Secretary
Chief of the Air Staff
Deputy Commander Operations
Deputy Commander Capability & Personnel
Chief of Materiel (Air)
Assistant Chief of the Air Staff
Specialist officers as required

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 world wide. 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 the various Royal Air Force Headquarters.

CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF

Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford KCB CBE
 

Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford was appointed Chief of the Air Staff in July 2013. Air Chief Marshal Pulford was commissioned into the Royal Air Force as a pilot in 1977 and after flying training, joined No 72 Squadron, flying Wessex helicopters. During his flying career he accumulated over 5,000 hours on both Wessex and Chinook helicopters, serving primarily in Germany with No 18 Squadron but including exchange tours with the Royal Navy’s Commando Helicopter Force and the Royal Australian Air Force.

He has commanded in every officer rank and has seen operational service in Northern Ireland , the Falkland Islands, Lebanon , the Balkans and the Gulf.

Sir Andrew’s staff appointments have included command of the Support Helicopter Tactics and Trials Flight, a short spell in Headquarters Northern Ireland as the Royal Air Force and Army Air Corps Operational Requirements desk officer, a tour in the British Army’s doctrine organisation and two years as Personal Staff Officer to the Chief of Air Staff. He attended No 85 Advanced Staff Course at the Royal Air Force Staff College Bracknell in 1993 and graduated from the Higher Command and Staff Course in 2001.