Stuart Peach

Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart William Peach, KCB, CBE (born 1956) is a senior Royal Air Force officer. He was appointed the first Commander of Joint Forces Command in December 2011, having previously served as Chief of Joint Operations and prior to that as Chief of Defence Intelligence. He was appointed Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff on 10 May 2013.

Service career
Peach was gazetted as a University Cadet in 1974, being commissioned on graduation in 1977 as a Pilot Officer, and promoted to Flying Officer and Flight Lieutenant the following year. A navigator, Peach served one tour on the English Electric Canberra in the photographic reconnaissance role and then three tours on the ground attack and reconnaissance variant of the Panavia Tornado in both the UK and Germany, being promoted to Squadron Leader in 1986, becoming a Qualified Weapons Instructor and receiving the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air in the 1990 Birthday Honours List. After Staff College in 1990 he returned to Germany to serve as Personal Staff Officer to, in turn, Deputy Commander RAF Germany, Commander-in-Chief RAF Germany and Commander Second Allied Tactical Air Force (of which RAF Germany formed a part), being promoted to Wing Commander in 1991. From 1994 to 1996 Peach commanded IX (Bomber) Squadron operating in the Strike, Attack and SEAD role, also acting as Deputy Station Commander RAF Bruggen.

Following promotion to Group Captain in 1996 and an MPhil degree at the University of Cambridge, Peach became Director Defence Studies (Royal Air Force) in 1997, commissioning scholarship, editing books and writing articles on air power. In 1999 he was appointed Assistant Director of the Higher Command and Staff Course at the Joint Services Command and Staff College (having previously graduated from that course).

Peach served as Commander British Forces Italy from 1999 to 2000 and NATO Air Commander (Forward) in Kosovo in 2000, as a result of which he was appointed CBE. He was then appointed Commandant of the Air Warfare Centre and Assistant Chief of Staff Intelligence at RAF Strike Command, being promoted to Air Commodore in January 2001.

Promoted to Air Vice Marshal in 2003, Peach served as Director Intelligence Collection from July 2003 to March 2006. He was promoted to Air Marshal in 2006, and appointed Chief of Defence Intelligence, becoming Chief of Joint Operations in March 2009 having been knighted in that year's New Year Honours List.

Peach was promoted to Air Chief Marshal and appointed the first commander of the new Joint Forces Command in December 2011. He went on to become Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff in May 2013.

Education and personal
Peach graduated from the University of Sheffield with a degree in Geography, Economics and Social History and, in addition to his MPhil from Cambridge, has been awarded an honorary DTech degree from the University of Kingston, and is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. He is the President of the RAF Rugby League, and is married with two children.

Honours and awards