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Michael Harwood (RAF officer)

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Michael Harwood
Michael Harwood in May 2011
Born (1958-10-29) 29 October 1958 (age 66)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1978–2012
RankAir Vice-Marshal
CommandsBritish Defence Staff – US (2008–11)
No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group (2007–08)
RAF Cottesmore (2001–03)
No. 20 Squadron (1998–2000)
Battles / warsIraq War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air

Air Vice Marshal Michael John Harwood, CB, CBE (born 29 October 1958) is a retired senior Royal Air Force officer who served as Defence Attaché and Head of the British Defence Staff – US in Washington, D.C. from 2008 to 2011.

RAF career

Michael Harwood visiting the Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, United States.

Educated at Merchant Taylors' School and at King's College London (MA Defence Studies), Harwood joined the RAF as a fast-jet pilot in 1978, initially serving as a flying instructor on Hawk and Harrier GR3/T4 aircraft. He received the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air in December 1990. Promoted to wing commander, he became Commanding Officer of No. 20 Squadron (Harrier Operational Conversion Unit) at RAF Wittering in 1998 and, following promotion to group captain, he became Commander British Forces (Gulf) in Saudi Arabia in 2000. He went on to be Station Commander, RAF Cottesmore in 2001 before being deployed as Operating Base Commander, Kuwait for Operation Telic in 2003. He joined the Public Relations Directorate at the Ministry of Defence in 2004, became Assistant Commandant (Air) at the Joint Services Command and Staff College in 2005 and was the appointed Chief of the ISAF Detachment, CENTAF Combined Air Operations Centre at Al Udeid with the rank of air commodore in September 2007.

Harwood became Air Officer Commanding No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group, Al Udeid in 2007. He was promoted air vice marshal and appointed Head of the British Defence Staff – US and Defence Attaché in November 2008. He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 2012 New Year Honours.

References

  1. Defence Attaché (USA) biography Archived 28 November 2009 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 14 January 2009
  2. "No. 52382". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 1990. p. 27.
  3. Royal Air Force Air Rank Appointments List 2/07 Retrieved 21 February 2007
  4. Royal Air Force Air Rank Appointments List 1/08 Archived 8 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 4 January 2008
  5. "No. 60009". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2011. p. 2.
Military offices
Preceded byDavid Walker Station Commander RAF Cottesmore
2001–2003 		Succeeded byAndrew Golledge
Preceded byPaul Oborn Air Officer Commanding No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group
2007–2008 		Succeeded byTony Barmby
Preceded byPeter Gilchrist Head of the British Defence Staff – US and Defence Attaché
2008–2011 		Succeeded byBuster Howes
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