Stuart Atha

Air Vice Marshal Stuart David Atha DSO ADC is a serving senior officer of the Royal Air Force and is currently '''Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group.

Military career
Atha joined the RAF after graduating from Glasgow University in 1984. He was commissioned as a pilot officer on 14 October 1984, promoted to flying officer on 14 April 1985 (with seniority from 14 October 1982), flight lieutenant on 14 April 1986, and squadron leader on 1 July 1995. He served as a Fast Jet Qualified Flying Instructor on the Hawk aircraft, before completing tours in Germany and the UK, flying the Harrier GR7 on No 1 (Fighter) and No IV (Army Cooperation) Squadrons.

Following a tour as the Harrier tactics specialist at the Air Warfare Centre, Atha attended the Advanced Command and Staff Course at Bracknell (1999–2000), and was promoted wing commander on 1 July 1999. He then assumed command of No 3 (Fighter) Squadron, again flying the Harrier GR7. He graduated from King's College London with an MA in 2000.

Following his command tour, Atha joined the Ministry of Defence Directorate of Operational Capability for a short spell before becoming the Personal Staff Officer to the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup. He was promoted group captain on 1 January 2005. In early 2006, he attended the Higher Command and Staff Course. Atha was station commander of RAF Coningsby from 1 December 2006 – 15 December 2008.

Atha is a veteran of the conflicts in both the Balkans and Gulf with combat missions flown in Operation DELIBERATE FORCE (Bosnia 1995), Operation ALLIED FORCE (Kosovo 1999) and Operation TELIC (Iraq 2003). On 31 October 2003 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership in Iraq. He was appointed Aide-de-Camp to the Queen on 12 February 2007.

Atha's tour in the Middle East was followed in April 2010 with an appointment as Head of Joint Capability at the Ministry of Defence. He was promoted Air Vice Marshal and appointed Air Officer Commanding No.1 Group RAF on 12 Aug 2011

He was the Air Component Commander for the London Olympics Air Security.

Honours and awards