Gavin Parker
Gavin Parker | |
---|---|
![]() Air Vice-Marshal Parker in 2018 | |
Born | Harare, Zimbabwe |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | Royal Air Force |
Years of service | 1990 – 2020 |
Rank | Air Vice-Marshal |
Commands held | No. 2 Group (2015–17) RAF Leuchars (2011–13) |
Battles/wars | War in Afghanistan |
Awards | Companion 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 former senior Royal Air Force officer and was formerly the Head of the British Defence Staff and Defence Attaché in Washington, D.C.
Early life and education
Parker was born on 22 February 1969 in Harare, Zimbabwe (at the time called Salisbury, Rhodesia). He studied physics at the University of Newcastle, England, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in 1990. He later studied at King's College London, and graduated with a Master of Arts (MA) degree in defence studies in 2006.[1]
Military career
Parker was commissioned into the Royal Air Force 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 retired from the RAF on 29 September 2020.[5]
Parker was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2019 Birthday Honours.[6]
References
- ^ "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.
- ^ "No. 52339". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 November 1990. p. 17945.
- ^ a b "Ministry of Defence and Senior Tri-Service Appointments" (PDF). Retrieved 4 December 2017.
- ^ "Senior RAF Appointments" (PDF). Retrieved 4 November 2016.
- ^ "No. 63164". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 November 2020. p. 18606.
- ^ "No. 62666". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 June 2019. p. B3.
- Pages containing London Gazette template with parameter supp set to y
- Articles with short description
- Short description with empty Wikidata description
- Use dmy dates from February 2017
- Use British English from February 2017
- Living people
- Officers of the Order of the British Empire
- Royal Air Force air marshals
- British air attachés
- Year of birth missing (living people)
- Companions of the Order of the Bath
- People from Harare
- Alumni of King's College London