The Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (ACAS) is a senior appointment in the Royal Air Force. The current ACAS is Air Vice-Marshal Simon Edwards.
| Assistant Chief of the Air Staff | |
|---|---|
 Ensign of the Royal Air Force (ACAS Command Flag) | |
| Ministry of Defence | |
| Style | Air Vice-Marshal |
| Abbreviation | ACAS |
| Member of | Air Force Board Civil Aviation Authority Board |
| Reports to | Chief of the Air Staff |
| Appointer | King Charles III |
| Formation | c. April 1938 |
| First holder | Air Chief Marshal Sir Anthony Skingsley |
| Website | Official website |
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The post was originally established circa February 1938, but without being made a member of the Air Council.[1]
The ACAS post was re-established in 1985 by eliminating the Vice Chief of the Air Staff and combining the Policy and Operations two star assistant chiefs. In 1992, ACAS became a member of the Air Force Board. The ACAS is responsible for "assisting the Chief of the Air Staff in generating a balanced and integrated Royal Air Force capability and for maintaining the fighting effectiveness and morale of the Service including the development of policy."[2] One of the many duties of the ACAS is to sit on the board of the Civil Aviation Authority as a non-executive member.[3]
Assistant Chiefs of the Air Staff from 1985 edit
- 1985–1986: Anthony Skingsley
- 1987–1989: Michael Simmons
- 1989–1991: John Thomson
- 1991–1992: Timothy Garden
- 1992–1994: Anthony Bagnall
- 1994–1996: Peter Squire
- 1996–1998: Timothy Jenner
- 1998–2000: Jock Stirrup
- 2000–2003: Philip Sturley
- 2003–2005: David Walker
- 2005–2007: Chris Moran
- 2007–2010: Tim Anderson
- 2010–2013: Barry North[4]
- 2013–2015: Edward Stringer[5]
- 2015–2017: Richard Knighton[6]
- 2017–2018: Michael Wigston[7]
- 2018–2019: Gerry Mayhew[8]
- 2019–2021: Ian Gale[9]
- 2021–present: Simon Edwards
References edit
- ^ Barrass, M. B. "Air Council Appointments: Assistant Chief of the Air Staff". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation.
- ^ "Air Command senior, as of September 2015". Ministry of Defence. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
- ^ "Senior Commanders: Assistant Chief of Air Staff (ACAS)". Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
- ^ "Air Rank Appointments List". Royal Air Force. August 2009. Retrieved 27 October 2009.
- ^ "Air Rank Appointments List". Royal Air Force. March 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
- ^ "Air Rank and Command Appointments List". Royal Air Force. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- ^ "Senior Appointments". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
- ^ "Senior Appointments". raf.mod.uk. Royal Air Force. 15 March 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
- ^ "Senior Appointments". raf.mod.uk. Royal Air Force. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2019.