Gavin Parker
Air Vice-Marshal Parker in 2018
BornHarare, Zimbabwe
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1990 – 2020
RankAir Vice-Marshal
Commands heldNo. 2 Group (2015–17)
RAF Leuchars (2011–13)
Battles/warsWar in Afghanistan
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Officer of the Order of the British Empire

Air Vice-Marshal Gavin Douglas Anthony Parker CB OBE is a former senior Royal Air Force officer and was formerly the Head of the British Defence Staff and Defence Attaché in Washington, D.C.

Early life and education

Parker was born on 22 February 1969 in Harare, Zimbabwe (at the time called Salisbury, Rhodesia). He studied physics at the University of Newcastle, England, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in 1990. He later studied at King's College London, and graduated with a Master of Arts (MA) degree in defence studies in 2006.[1]

Military career

Parker was commissioned into the Royal Air Force on 30 September 1990.[2] He became Air Officer Scotland and station commander at RAF Leuchars in 2011, Assistant Chief of Staff, Plans and Policy at the Ministry of Defence in 2013,[3] and Air Officer Commanding No. 2 Group in 2015.[4] After that he became Head of the British Defence Staff and Defence Attaché in Washington, D.C. in August 2017.[3] Parker retired from the RAF on 29 September 2020.[5]

Parker was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2019 Birthday Honours.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Parker, Air Vice-Marshal Gavin Douglas Anthony, (born 22 Feb. 1969), Defence Attaché and Head of the British Defence Staff, Washington DC, 2017–20". Who's Who 2021. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2020.
  2. ^ "No. 52339". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 November 1990. p. 17945.
  3. ^ a b "Ministry of Defence and Senior Tri-Service Appointments" (PDF). Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  4. ^ "Senior RAF Appointments" (PDF). Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  5. ^ "No. 63164". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 November 2020. p. 18606.
  6. ^ "No. 62666". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 June 2019. p. B3.
Military offices Preceded byI Morrison Deputy Director – Air Control ElementInternational Security Assistance Force Kabul 2008–2009 Succeeded byI D Teakle Preceded byHarry Atkinson Station Commander RAF Leuchars 2011–2013 Succeeded byGerry Mayhew Air Officer Scotland 2011–2013 Preceded bySean Reynolds Air Officer Commanding No. 2 Group 2015–2017 Succeeded byDavid Cooper Preceded byRichard Cripwell Head of the British Defence Staff – US and Defence Attaché 2017–2020 Succeeded byMichael Smeath
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