Simon Bryant (RAF officer)

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