Stephen Hillier

Air Marshal Stephen John Hillier CBE DFC is a senior Royal Air Force officer, currently serving as Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Capability). He won the Distinguished Flying Cross for actions in the Gulf in 1999 and was awarded the US Bronze Star Medal for service in the Iraq War.

Service career
Hillier was commissioned as an Acting Pilot Officer in November 1980, and regraded to Pilot Officer (after Initial Officer Training) in November 1981.

He was a pilot - flying the Tornado aircraft - and served in the 1991 Gulf War. He was promoted to Squadron Leader in July 1991 and Wing Commander in July 1996, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for actions in the Gulf in 1999.

Promoted to Group Captain in July 2000, Hillier then served in the Iraq War, being awarded the US Bronze Star Medal in 2003. He was also appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2005 New Year Honours List, just prior to his promotion to Air Commodore in January of that year.

As an Air Commodore, Hillier served as Head of Theatre Airspace Capability in the Ministry of Defence prior to his promotion to Air Vice Marshal and appointment as Air Officer Commanding No. 2 Group in September 2008. In October 2010 he returned to the Ministry of Defence as Director Information Superiority and in June 2012 he was promoted to Air Marshal and appointed Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Capability).