Description
Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton KCB ADC FREng.
Chief of the Air Staff
It is a huge pleasure to welcome Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton to TLC tonight. After all TLC’s relationship with the RAF goes back to our inaugural London meeting in 2012 which was attended by the then Air Marshal Andrew Pulford shortly to become Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford who presented to TLC in 2013. Subsequently we have enjoyed presentations from his successors Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier in 2016 and Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston in 2021.
I contacted Rich last year and asked if he would be willing to speak and he was generous in accepting almost immediately. With the enormous geopolitical challenges we face, his title is fascinating and illuminating and undoubtedly it will be a delight to hear his ‘take’
Biography
Brought up in Derbyshire and educated at the local Comprehensive School, Air Chief Marshal Knighton joined the Royal Air Force in 1988 as a University Cadet and studied Engineering at Clare College Cambridge. He spent his early career in frontline roles working on Nimrod Maritime Patrol Aircraft, Tornado and in several roles on the Harrier Force. He has served as the Station Commander at Royal Air Force Wittering where he was also the RAF’s Logistics Force Commander.
He has held a range of staff appointments in the Ministry of Defence, Air Command and in equipment acquisition and support. He has been closely involved in strategic and capability planning for the Royal Air Force and Defence. He was the Assistant Chief of Air Staff during the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, where he was responsible for the strategic coherence and coordination of the Royal Air Force and planning for the RAF100 Centenary.
The most senior role he has held in the Ministry of Defence was as the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff for Military Capability. Before his appointment as Chief of the Air Staff, he was Deputy Commander Capability and People at Air Command, responsible for the strategic planning and delivery of all aspects of Royal Air Force capability including people, equipment, infrastructure and training. Air Chief Marshal Knighton took over as the Chief of the Air Staff on 2 June 2023.
He has completed the Advanced Command and Staff Course, the Royal College of Defence Studies, the UK Pinnacle Course and the joint UK/US Rising Leaders Course. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineers and has an Honorary Doctorate from Derby University. He is an ambassador for the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, and the Royal Air Forces Association, and is President of the Royal Air Force Winter Sports Federation, Hockey Association and Powerlifting Association. He was appointed to the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath as a Commander (CB) in 2017 and as Knight Commander (KCB) in 2023.
