Simon Bryant (RAF officer)
Sir Simon Bryant | |
---|---|
Air Chief Marshal Simon Bryant | |
Born | 20 June 1956 |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/branch | Royal Air Force |
Years of service | 1977–2012 |
Rank | Air Chief Marshal |
Commands held |
Air Command (2010–12) Air Member for Personnel (2009–10) RAF Leuchars (2003–05) No. 43 (Fighter) Squadron (1997–99) |
Battles/wars |
War in Afghanistan Iraq War |
Awards |
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service |
Air Chief Marshal Sir Simon Bryant, KCB, CBE (born 20 June 1956)[1] is a former Royal Air Force officer, who served as Commander-in-Chief of Air Command, and he was the second-most senior officer in the service until this post was dis-established in March 2012. He was appointed in 2010, following the sudden death of the then Commander-in-Chief, Air Chief Marshal Sir Christopher Moran, having served as Deputy Commander-in-Chief Personnel for just over a year. He was knighted in the 2011 New Year Honours List.
Service career
Educated at Stamford School[2] and the University of Nottingham, graduating in 1977 in Geography, Bryant was commissioned as a University Cadet in 1974.[3] He was regraded on graduation,[4] and then promoted to flying officer[5] and to flight lieutenant in 1978.[6] Trained as a fast jet navigator, he completed two tours on the F-4 Phantom in the Air Defence role before an exchange tour with the US Navy, instructing on the F-14 Tomcat.[7] Promoted to squadron leader in 1985,[8] Bryant then flew the Tornado F3 as a squadron executive at RAF Leeming.[7]
Following a tour in the Air Secretary's Department, Staff College (graduating in 1992), a Force Development appointment in the Ministry of Defence,[7] and promotion to wing commander in 1993,[9] Bryant served as a Senior Operations Officer at the Combined Air Operations Centre at Vicenza in 1996, before being appointed Commanding Officer of 43(F) Squadron at RAF Leuchars, again flying the Tornado F3.[7]
Promoted group captain in 1999,[10] Bryant served as the Personal Staff Officer to the Deputy Supreme Commander at SHAPE before being appointed Commander of British Forces in Oman;[7] he was awarded a Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in 2002.[11]
Following the Higher Command and Staff Course,[7] Bryant was promoted to air commodore in 2004,[12] his initial appointment being as Air Officer Scotland before a further tour in the Middle East as Director of the Combined Air Operations Centre at Al Udeid in Qatar;[7] he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2005.[13] On return to the UK, a tour as Head of Joint Capability at the Ministry of Defence[7] was followed by his promotion to air vice marshal and appointment as Chief of Staff Personnel (and Air Secretary) in 2006.[14] In 2009 he was promoted to air marshal and appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief Personnel (and Air Member for Personnel),[15] in which position he had been serving for just over a year when the then Commander-in-Chief, Air Chief Marshal Sir Christopher Moran died suddenly, and Bryant was promoted in order to replace Moran.[16] He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 2011 New Year Honours List.[17]
In June 2011, Bryant said, that in the context of operations in Libya, "huge" demands were being placed on equipment and personnel.[18] Prime Minister David Cameron responded by telling the defence chiefs to stop criticising Libya mission.[19]
His retirement was marked by a dining-out on 30 March 2012.[20]
Family
Bryant is married to Helen, and they have a son, Benjamin, and daughter Alexandra. He is a sportsman, particularly enjoying golf, real tennis, skiing, hockey and squash.[7]
References
- ↑ "Birthday's today". The Telegraph. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Simon Bryant, C–in–C Air Command, 2010–12, 57
- ↑ "Old Stamfordian Update 06/10" (PDF). Stamford School. April 2010. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 46455. p. 214. 7 January 1975. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 47328. p. 11939. 20 September 1977. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 47437. p. 607. 16 January 1978. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 47670. p. 12646. 23 October 1978. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Commander-in-Chief Air Command". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 50195. p. 9771. 15 July 1985. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 53363. p. 11374. 5 July 1993. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 55543. p. 7308. 6 July 1999. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 56735. p. 8. 29 October 2002. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 57168. p. 128. 6 January 2004. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 57665. p. 6. 11 June 2005. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
- ↑ RAF Air Rank Appointments List 04/06 of 10 Apr 2006 retrieved 30 May 2011
- ↑ RAF Air Rank Appointments List 07/08 of 16 Oct 2008 retrieved 30 May 2011
- ↑ RAF Air Rank Appointments List 04/10 of 18 Jun 2010 retrieved 30 May 2011
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 59647. p. 2. 31 December 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
- ↑ "RAF stretched by Libya, says second-in-command". BBC. 21 June 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
- ↑ "David Cameron tells defence chiefs to stop criticising Libya mission". 21 June 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
- ↑ "Last Commander in Chief dined out of RAF High Wycombe". Retrieved 8 December 2013.
Military offices | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by M J Routledge |
Air Officer Scotland and Station Commander, RAF Leuchars 2003–2005 |
Succeeded by J Stinton |
Preceded by P J F Eberle |
Head of Joint Capability, Ministry of Defence 2005–2006 |
Succeeded by B L Bates |
Preceded by Peter Ruddock |
Chief of Staff Personnel and Air Secretary 2006–2009 |
Succeeded by Michael Lloyd |
Preceded by Stephen Dalton |
Deputy Commander-in-Chief Personnel, Air Command and Air Member for Personnel 2009–2010 |
Succeeded by Andrew Pulford |
Preceded by Sir Chris Moran |
Commander-in-Chief, Air Command 2010–2012 |
Succeeded by Post disbanded |