Russell La Forte

Air Commodore Russell William 'Russ' La Forte, CBE is a British Royal Air Force officer. He is currently serving as Commander of the British Forces South Atlantic Islands and previously served as Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment.

Early life
Born in 1960 to Edward La Forte, he was educated at Manor Primary School, Didcot, and Wallingford Grammar School, Wallingford, Berkshire. He was a member of the Air Training Corps as a teenager.

Military career
In 1978, La Forte joined the RAF Regiment as a gunner. On 20 May 1982, the then Senior Aircraftman La Forte was commissioned into the Security Branch of the Royal Air Force as a pilot officer with seniority from 25 September 1980. He was given the service number 8174289Q. He was promoted to flight lieutenant on 25 September 1986. As part of the half-yearly promotions, he was promoted to squadron leader on 1 July 1991, and to wing commander on 1 January 1999.

He was promoted to group captain on 1 January 2004. From 2007 to 2009, he served as Station Commander of RAF Honington. He then attended the Higher Command and Staff Course at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. He then served as Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment from February 2010 to January 2012. In December 2011, he was appointed Assistant Chief of Staff Training, HQ No. 22 Group. In March 2013, he was appointed Commander British Force South Atlantic Islands.

Honours and decorations
In the 1995 New Year Honours, La Forte was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). He was promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2009 Queen's Birthday Honours.

He was appointed Aide de Camp (ADC) to Queen Elizabeth II on 1 November 2007.