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.[1]
Military career[]
In 1978, La Forte joined the RAF Regiment as a gunner.[2] 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.[3] He was promoted to flight lieutenant on 25 September 1986.[4] As part of the half-yearly promotions, he was promoted to squadron leader on 1 July 1991,[5] and to wing commander on 1 January 1999.[6]
He was promoted to group captain on 1 January 2004.[7] 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.[8] He then served as Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment from February 2010 to January 2012.[9] In December 2011, he was appointed Assistant Chief of Staff Training, HQ No. 22 Group.[2] In March 2013, he was appointed Commander British Force South Atlantic Islands.[10][11][12]
Honours and decorations[]
In the 1995 New Year Honours, La Forte was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).[13] He was promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2009 Queen's Birthday Honours.[14][15]
He was appointed Aide de Camp (ADC) to Queen Elizabeth II on 1 November 2007.[16]
References[]
- ↑ Allen, Emily (18 December 2007). "Airman to serve the Queen". http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/1911073.airman_to_serve_the_queen/. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "RAF HONINGTON NAMES A NEW ROAD AFTER ITS OUTGOING COMMANDANT GENERAL". RAF Honington. 3 February 2012. http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafhonington/newsweather/index.cfm?storyid=D34BB21D-5056-A318-A83ECC813B0A2450. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
- ↑ "No. 49028". 21 June 1982. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/49028/page/
- ↑ "No. 50696". 27 October 1986. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/50696/page/
- ↑ "No. 52591". 1 July 1991. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/52591/page/
- ↑ "No. 55365". 4 January 1999. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/55365/page/
- ↑ "No. 57168". 6 January 2004. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/57168/page/
- ↑ "New Station Commander at RAF Honington". 24 February 2009. RAF Honington. http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafhonington/newsweather/index.cfm?storyid=A8C8EE3C-1143-EC82-2E44AEEA441D6F4A. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
- ↑ "SENIOR ROYAL AIR FORCE APPOINTMENTS" (pdf). gulabin.com. http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Royal%20Air%20Force%20Senior%20Appointments.pdf. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
- ↑ "RAF cook up a victory for the Legion". Royal British Legion. 12 April 2013. http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/news/fundraising/raf-cook-up-a-victory-for-the-legion. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
- ↑ "Trading places" (pdf). Royal Air Force News. 26 April 2013. http://www.raf-ff.org.uk/images/library/files/RAF_News_p23_Apr_26.pdf. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
- ↑ "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE AND TRI-SERVICE SENIOR APPOINTMENTS" (pdf). gulabin.com. http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Ministry%20of%20Defence%20Senior%20Posts.pdf. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
- ↑ "No. 53893". 30 December 1994. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/53893/page/
- ↑ "No. 59090". 13 June 2009. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/59090/page/
- ↑ "Queen's birthday honours list: Military". 13 June 2009. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/jun/13/queens-birthday-honours-list-military. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
- ↑ "No. 58509". 13 November 2007. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58509/page/
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