Michael Stear

Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael James Douglas Stear, (born 11 October 1938 ) was Deputy Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Central Europe from 1992 to 1996.

Educated at Monkton Combe School in Somerset Sir Michael began his National Service in 1957. He attended Cambridge University from 1959 where he joined the Cambridge University Air Squadron (part of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve). After completing his degree he joined the Royal Air Force in 1962. His career was then as follows:


 * 1964: pilot with No. 1 Squadron after completing flying training.
 * 1967: joined No. 208 Squadron and saw action in the Persian Gulf
 * 1969: a three-year United States Air Force Exchange Tour
 * 1972: posted to the Air Secretary's Branch at the Ministry of Defence.
 * 1974: posted to Germany as Officer Commanding No. 17 Squadron
 * 1976: short-term posting as Officer Commanding No. 56 Squadron at RAF Wattisham (a Lightning squadron)
 * 1976: appointed Personal Staff Officer to the Chief of Air Staff, Ministry of Defence
 * 1980: returned to Germany as Officer Commanding RAF Gutersloh in 1980
 * 1982: became Assistant Chief of Staff (Operations), HQ Second Allied Tactical Air Force
 * 1982: with the advent of the Falklands War, posted as Air Commodore Plans, HQ Strike Command
 * 1985: Air Officer Commanding (AOC) No. 11 Group
 * 1987: Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (NATO / UK)
 * 1989: AOC No. 18 Group and Commander Maritime Air Eastern Atlantic and Channel
 * 1993: Deputy Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Central Europe

Stear was awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air (QCVSA) in 1969, Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1982 and Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in 1990.

Stear retired from the RAF in 1996 and he maintained his links with the Air Force, became President of the Royal Air Forces Association in 1998. In 2000 he was appointed a deputy lieutenant for the County of Devon.