Gavin Parker

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Gavin Parker
Air Vice-Marshal Parker in 2018
Born (1969-02-22) 22 February 1969 (age 55)
Salisbury, Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1990–2020
RankAir Vice-Marshal
Commands heldNo. 2 Group (2015–17)
RAF Leuchars (2011–13)
Battles/warsWar in Afghanistan
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Officer of the Order of the British Empire

Air Vice-Marshal Gavin Douglas Anthony Parker, CB, OBE is a retired senior Royal Air Force officer and was the Head of the British Defence Staff and Defence Attaché in Washington, D.C.

Early life and education[edit]

Parker was born on 22 February 1969 in Salisbury, Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe). He studied physics at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in the United Kingdom and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1990. He later studied at King's College London, graduating with a Master of Arts degree in defence studies in 2006.[1]

RAF career[edit]

Parker was commissioned into the Royal Air Force (RAF) on 30 September 1990.[2] He became Air Officer Scotland and station commander at RAF Leuchars in 2011, Assistant Chief of Staff, Plans and Policy at the Ministry of Defence in 2013,[3] and Air Officer Commanding No. 2 Group in 2015.[4] After that he became Head of the British Defence Staff and Defence Attaché in Washington, D.C. in August 2017.[3] Parker was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 2019 Birthday Honours,[5] and retired from the RAF on 29 September 2020.[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Parker, Air Vice-Marshal Gavin Douglas Anthony, (born 22 Feb. 1969), Defence Attaché and Head of the British Defence Staff, Washington DC, 2017–20". Who's Who 2021. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2020.
  2. ^ "No. 52339". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 November 1990. p. 17945.
  3. ^ a b "Ministry of Defence and Senior Tri-Service Appointments" (PDF). Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  4. ^ "Senior RAF Appointments" (PDF). Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  5. ^ "No. 62666". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 June 2019. p. B3.
  6. ^ "No. 63164". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 November 2020. p. 18606.
Military offices
Preceded by Station Commander RAF Leuchars
2011–2013
Succeeded by
Air Officer Scotland
2011–2013
Preceded by Air Officer Commanding No. 2 Group
2015–2017
Succeeded by
Preceded by Head of the British Defence Staff – US and Defence Attaché
2017–2020
Succeeded by