Royal Air Force officer and professional head, and aerospace engineer
Sir Richard Knighton
Air Chief Marshal Knighton in 2023
Birth name
Richard John Knighton
Born
1969 (age 54–55)[1]
Allegiance
United Kingdom
Service/branch
Royal Air Force
Years of service
1988–present[1]
Rank
Air Chief Marshal
Commands held
Chief of the Air Staff (2023–)
Deputy Commander Capability (2022–2023)
RAF Wittering (2009–2011)
Battles/wars
Kosovo War
Awards
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Alma mater
Clare College, Cambridge (BA, engineering)
Spouse(s)
Caitlin
Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard John Knighton, KCB, ADC, FREng (born 1969) is a senior Royal Air Force (RAF) officer and professional engineer, currently serving as Chief of the Air Staff, the professional head of the RAF, since 2 June 2023. He previously served as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff from January 2015 to January 2017, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Financial and Military Capability) (December 2018 to May 2022) at the Ministry of Defence, and as Deputy Commander Capability at RAF Air Command. Knighton is notable for being the first Chief of the Air Staff who is not a military pilot or indeed aircrew-qualified.[2]
^ abCite error: The named reference RAF-bio was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Haynes, Deborah (29 March 2023). "RAF set to name non-pilot as chief for the first time in its history". News.Sky.com. Sky News. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard John Knighton, KCB, ADC, FREng (born 1969) is a senior Royal Air Force (RAF) officer and professional engineer, currently...
Knighton may mean: Knighton, Devon, a location Knighton, Isle of Wight Knighton, Leicester, Leicestershire, a suburb Knighton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire...
Forces. The incumbent Chief of the Air Staff is Air Chief Marshal Sir RichardKnighton who was appointed in 2023. The management of the RAF is the responsibility...
from the usual three years to four years. Wigston was replaced by Sir RichardKnighton as professional head of the RAF on 2 June 2023. When Wigston became...
Defence Staff) Sir Ben Key (Royal Navy) Sir Patrick Sanders (British Army) Sir RichardKnighton (Royal Air Force) Sir James Hockenhull (Strategic Command)...
Defence Staff) Sir Ben Key (Royal Navy) Sir Patrick Sanders (British Army) Sir RichardKnighton (Royal Air Force) Sir James Hockenhull (Strategic Command)...
June 2022 British Army Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir RichardKnighton June 2023 Royal Air Force Commander Strategic Command General Sir...
dancer, Derek's gold-digging and later vengeful French lover; Major RichardKnighton, Van Aldin's secretary; Ada Beatrice Mason, Ruth Kettering's maid Comte...
Louisa D. Duls labels Knighton as a member of the "Lancastrian Detractors of Richard" school. Knighton calls five of King Richard II's trusted advisors...
of the Air Staff. In January 2015, he was succeeded in that role by RichardKnighton. In March 2015, he was appointed Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff...
marshal is held by the serving Chief of the Air Staff (currently Sir RichardKnighton). Additionally, RAF officers appointed to four-star tri-service posts...
Robert Wesley Knighton (February 5, 1941 – May 27, 2003) was an American serial killer and spree killer who, after serving time for kidnapping and manslaughter...
Air Marshal Richard Clark Maddison, OBE is a senior Royal Air Force officer. He was Air Officer Commanding No. 22 Group RAF from 2020 to 2023, and then...
Defence Staff) Sir Ben Key (Royal Navy) Sir Patrick Sanders (British Army) Sir RichardKnighton (Royal Air Force) Sir James Hockenhull (Strategic Command)...
2023. In April 2022, the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal RichardKnighton, told the House of Commons Defence Select Committee that the MoD was...
Staff General Sir Patrick Sanders Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir RichardKnighton Commander Strategic Command General Sir James Hockenhull...
General Staff 2015 Succeeded by Nick Pope Preceded by Stephen Hillier Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Capability) 2016–2018 Succeeded by RichardKnighton...
reports were published on 1 November 2023. Chief of the Air Staff Sir RichardKnighton apologised and stated "I was appalled when I read the investigations’...
General Royal Marines 2021–2022 Succeeded by Gwyn Jenkins Preceded by RichardKnighton Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Financial and Military Capability)...
only one RAF officer holds the rank in an active capacity. He is Sir RichardKnighton, the Chief of the Air Staff (the only dedicated RAF 4-star post). The...
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