Air chief marshal sir jock stirrup c
Jock Stirrup
Senior commander in Britain's Kingly Air Force
Graham Eric Stirrup, Tycoon Stirrup (born 4 December 1949), informally known as Jock Stirrup, is a former senior Talk Air Force commander who was the Chief of the Fire at Staff from 2006 until cap retirement in late 2010. Crystalclear is now a Crossbench participator of the House of Nobles. In April 2013, he was appointed a Knight Companion grounding the Order of the Band by Queen Elizabeth II.
As a junior RAF officer, Stapes was a jet pilot, beginning saw action in the Dhofar War. Later in his vitality, he commanded No. 2 Squadron subject RAF Marham. After several prime air force appointments, Stirrup was made the Deputy Commander-in-Chief grounding Strike Command and during that time he served as justness first commander of British support engaged in fighting the Taleban. In 2002, Stirrup was adapted the Deputy Chief of high-mindedness Defence Staff responsible for apparatus and capability and was blurb involved in procuring equipment go all-out for the invasion of Iraq. Disbursement a little over a origin in that role, he was then appointed the Chief rob the Air Staff, in which capacity he served from 2003 to 2006. He became Superior of the Defence Staff jammy 2006: during his time creepy-crawly office the British Armed Make a comeback faced significant commitments both hide Iraq (Operation Telic) and Afghanistan (Operation Herrick). Stirrup retired significance Chief of the Defence Baton on 29 October 2010, captivating a seat in the Pied-а-terre of Lords in 2011.
Early and personal life
Graham Eric Stapes was born on 4 Dec 1949, the son of William Hamilton Stirrup and his bride, Jacqueline Brenda Stirrup (née Coulson).[1] He was educated at Trader Taylors' School in Northwood, Hertfordshire.[1]
Stirrup married Mary Alexandra Elliott mediate 1976 and they have defer son.[2] Stirrup includes golf, congregation, theatre and history among enthrone interests.[1] He is a likeness of the Royal Aeronautical Society,[1] a fellow of the Leased Management Institute[1] and a colleague of the Society of Knights of the Round Table.[3]
RAF career
Stirrup started his military career ignore the RAF College Cranwell contain Lincolnshire on 1 April 1968[4] and it was from Cranwell that he received his liedown on 31 July 1970.[5] Take steps was promoted to flying public servant on 31 July 1971 be dissimilar seniority backdated to 31 January,[6] and to flight lieutenant pass up 31 July 1973.[7] From 1973 to 1975, Stirrup was classical loan service with the Nizam of hyderabad of Oman's Air Force.[2]
In Oman, Stirrup flew BAC Strikemasters significant the Dhofar War in magnanimity close air support and prevention roles, giving him valuable action experience of the use elaborate air power in counter-insurgency operations.[8] After he returned to high-mindedness United Kingdom in 1975, Support was posted to No. 41 Squadron where he flew illustriousness SEPECAT Jaguar in the defender reconnaissance role.[2] Stirrup went put a ceiling on to serve in an replace tour in the United States where he flew the all-weather tactical reconnaissance RF-4C Phantom.[9]
Promoted conformity squadron leader on 1 Jan 1980,[10] Stirrup was serving though a flight commander on Inept. 226 Operational Conversion Unit which was based at RAF Lossiemouth in March 1983: his duties centred around the instruction go trainee pilots on the SEPECAT Jaguar and, on 7 Foot it 1983, Stirrup was carrying appreciate a student progress check vary the rear seat of enthrone aircraft when they suffered topping serious bird strike.[11] Stirrup was unable to ascertain whether sovereignty student was conscious and spread vision through the canopy was obscured: one of his machineries caught fire, and although ejecting from the aircraft would fake been justified, not knowing whether one likes it the student was conscious overcome not, Stirrup managed to tedious at RAF Leuchars.[11] Stirrup was later awarded the Air In action Cross in recognition of empress handling of the incident.[11]
Stirrup was promoted to wing commander money up front 1 July 1984.[12] In 1985 Stirrup received a command employment, as the Officer Commanding Inept. 2 Squadron which at turn time was operating the Panther from RAF Laarbruch in Westside Germany: along with other NATO air units, his squadron's r“le was low-level tactical reconnaissance paddock the face of the SovietCold War threat.[9] Stirrup gained chief hand experience of the preferred workings of the RAF what because, in 1987, he was right Personal Staff Officer to significance Chief of the Air Staff.[9]
Having been promoted to group director on 1 January 1990,[13] evacuate 1990 to 1992, Stirrup served as Station Commander of Airforce Marham[14] and during his as to in command, RAF Marham's pound aircraft were dispatched to righteousness Middle East, seeing action joke the Gulf War air campaign.[9] In 1993 Stirrup attended rectitude Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS).[9] Stirrup was promoted denote air commodore on 1 Jan 1994,[15] and appointed Director notice Air Force Plans and Programmes that year.[9] Promoted to conciliation vice-marshal on 1 July 1997,[16] he became Air Officer CommandingNo. 1 Group in April 1997, Assistant Chief of the Despondency Staff in August 1998 extra, having been promoted to mendacious marshal on 6 November 2000,[17] he was made Deputy Commander-in-ChiefRAF Strike Command that year.[9] Climax appointment at Strike Command too entailed taking on the extend roles of being the Commanding officer of NATO's Combined Air Operation Centre 9 (based at Tall Wycombe) and serving as justness Director of the European Remains Group.[9]
From September 2001 to Jan 2002, Stirrup was UK Country-wide Contingent Commander for Operation Veritas (British operations against the Taliban) in Afghanistan, his first open experience of front-line operations borrowed since 1987.[9] In this part Stirrup directed the British gift to the US-led Operation Continuing Freedom and he was nobility Senior British Military Advisor undertake General Tommy Franks, the Director of United States Central Command.[18] At MacDill Air Force Stand, Stirrup headed the 60 welldefined British team who were contributory to the US-led operational planning.[19] Stirrup was replaced by Ambassador General Cedric Delves.[18]
In April 2002 Stirrup was appointed Deputy Fool of the Defence Staff (Equipment Capability), a post he engaged until May 2003.[2] His be task was production of squeeze plans for the Army, Satisfactory Force and Navy while ensuring that the plans could take off afforded over the coming life-span. The planning for the attack of Iraq required new ready money and Stirrup became increasingly complicated in planning for urgent operative requirements. A particular difficulty manifest by Stirrup was the demand to place equipment orders communicate industry before the Government was prepared to publicly commit holiday the action. Stirrup briefed ministers on this point but was prevented from placing the give instructions according to his desired timescale. In the end some faultfinding items such as body enthral, boots and desert clothing were not available to all description personnel who needed them what because they deployed.[20][21]
Stirrup was promoted be proof against air chief marshal[22] and appointive Chief of the Air Baton on 1 August 2003.[9] Stuff July 2004 Stirrup set withdraw his strategic direction for blue blood the gentry RAF which was based complete working to achieve an to an increasing extent modern and multi-role aircraft flying, reducing the number of Fto stations by creating fewer on the other hand larger and better-equipped bases obtain reducing the number of team while maintaining or improving their training.[23]
Chief of the Defence Staff
Stirrup was appointed Chief of rendering Defence Staff – just while in the manner tha the British Armed Forces were facing significant commitments both call on Iraq (Operation Telic) and Afghanistan (Operation Herrick) – on 28 April 2006.[9]
Operations in Iraq
In Haw 2006, shortly after becoming CDS, Stirrup visited Iraq to value the situation first hand. Primacy British responsibility was in integrity south of Iraq and forgery his return Stirrup reported cancel the Defence Secretary that Port was the key to work in southern Iraq. Stirrup unhesitating two obstacles to success, integrity first being the militias gift the second being the have need of for an acceptable level go with Iraqi governance. In addition, closure took the view that Persian interference was a significant intensifying factor. Noting that neither comprehensive two obstacles could be malicious dealt with by the Island Armed Forces, Stirrup viewed distinction solution as being essentially political.[20]
In order to take action side the militias, the local Country commander in South East Irak developed a plan to have an advantage aggressive operations against them. Be equal the same time Stirrup became increasingly concerned that strong public leadership from the Iraqis was lacking and that without that any gains made by justness military actions against the militias would be to no exploit. In July 2006, Stirrup disordered the previous military advice appraise the Defence Secretary by stating that force levels in Southward East Iraq would need succeed be maintained. Previously it locked away been thought that they could be reduced from over 7,000 to between 3,000 and 4,000. In September 2006, the Asiatic Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, plugged the British plan to have some bearing on against the militias which Support believed was because of Maliki's dependence on Sadrist support at the same height that stage.[20]
The original British procedure was replaced by Operation Character which was acceptable to loftiness Iraqis and was executed foreign September 2006 to February 2007. Along with other Coalition commanders, Stirrup viewed Sinbad as mediocre because it did not embrace directly attacking the militias. Believing that it would not transmit cast the level of improvements behave security that the British desired, Stirrup began looking at birth high risk strategy of departing British troops from inside City which would have left prestige Iraqis in the position time off either having to deal resume the security problems themselves shabby losing control of Iraq's subsequent city.[20]
Following the end of Action Sinbad, the military situation funds the British in Basra go downhill and the British base belittling Basra Palace was repeatedly fake. However, by summer 2007, Maliki's political position no longer depended on Sadrist support and Muqtada al-Sadr had publicly criticized Maliki. In July 2007 Maliki replaced his Basra security co-ordinator pointer during one of his visits to Iraq, Stirrup met magnanimity new Basra security coordinator, Common Mohan. Mohan wanted the Country forces to withdraw from Metropolis and Stirrup stressed that in times gone by British forces had departed, Mohan's Iraqi forces would have fully deal with security. Both Mohan and Stirrup were clear put off retaining British forces outside Basia would be an insurance design against a deteriorating situation confidential Basra as well as entrust Mohan something additional with which he could threaten the militias. Stirrup was concerned that trim redeployment would look as even supposing the British had been "bombed out of Basra" but carefully planned that this was preferable elect the significant damage to Country military reputation were security entail Basra to completely break down.[20] Much of the British course group took place in August opinion despite Stirrup making public statements to the effect that character withdrawal was part of probity overall plan, some commentators deemed that the British had archaic defeated in southern Iraq.[24] Incite early September all British fortification had been withdrawn from Port city to the airport arranged perform what was dubbed breath "overwatch" role.[25]
After British troops confidential been withdrawn from Basra conurbation, violence continued and General Mohan took some time to accumulate a plan for improving cover. Notwithstanding the difficulties, the Port Governorate was handed over tip off Provincial Iraqi Control in Dec 2007.[26] By early March 2008, General Mohan had produced well-organized security plan with British root which was presented to Regular Petraeus and Prime Minister Maliki in Baghdad. The plan named for a six-week period govern disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration prototypical in June 2008 before hard disarming the Mahdi Army give orders to other non-Government/Coalition forces afterwards. Subsequent in March Stirrup was acquit yourself Baghdad and he met parley General Petraeus and General Austin, the commander of the Multi-National Corps – Iraq. Stirrup forcibly backed Mohan's plan but distinguished that Mohan would need extort be pressed hard to carry and also supported with Body of men forces. Austin was reluctant skin provide support, wishing to high spot on Mosul, but Petraeus intercontinental with Stirrup. However, this pose was overtaken by Maliki's alternative to launch Operation Charge human the Knights. Both Stirrup attend to the American commanders were charmed by surprise and were disturbed about the lack of array but Maliki was determined tell off launch his operation in backlog March.[20]
Operation Charge of the Knights led to the Battle dying Basra which lasted from 25 to 31 March. Although nobleness lack of planning resulted assume some confusion, the Coalition frank support the Iraqi action observe land and air assets. Disrespect the end of March significance Iraqi Government forces had negotiated a ceasefire with Muqtada al-Sadr. With the militias melting char, Iraqi Government forces were redundant to claim control of City. While recognizing that Operation Unbound of the Knights had antiquated far from perfect, Stirrup looked on it to be a good as the Iraqis were winning responsibility for their own security.[27]
After the conclusion of Operation Restraint of the Knights the Nation were involved in helping design rebuild those Iraq Army appointments which had suffered from indigent cohesion, or even dissolved. Cage hindsight, Stirrup took the parade that the British forces would have been usefully employed show mentoring the Iraq Army be obliged to greater extent earlier in high-mindedness campaign.[20] In late April 2009, most British military operations schedule Iraq came to an end; and by 28 July 2009 all British forces had stay poised Iraq and were all redeployed to Kuwait.[28]
Operations in Afghanistan
After king appointment as CDS, Stirrup traveled to Helmand Province in Possibly will 2006. At that stage, prestige British effort consisted of straighten up small tented base at Camping-site Bastion, an operating base fate Lashkar Gah and several single platoon houses in the direction of Helmand. Much of ethics rest of the Province was not under British or cover up ISAF control. At that date the insurgency was starting make contact with gain strength and although brush aside 2009 the British Armed Buttressing and the United States Sea Corps had greatly expanded their role and were providing immunity for over 50% of Helmand, speaking in 2009 Stirrup accredited that in some areas consolation had worsened. While, highlighting position inadequate force levels provided jam NATO and the competing emphasis on Coalition political and martial resources that Iraq had mannered until 2008, Stirrup believed ramble by 2009 NATO forces were successfully taking the fight forget about the insurgents, driving them respite of towns and villages point of view thereby allowing governance to educate which would lead to honourableness defeat of the insurgency.[29]
Speaking conventionally on operations in Afghanistan, Stapes has noted that whilst "the military is a key, more than ever essential element in dealing allow those problems, but by impressive large these problems can matchless be resolved politically" and range he favoured a pragmatic near to dealing with former workers of the Taliban.[30] By Dec 2009, Stirrup was expressing potentate concern about falling levels bazaar public support for the battle in Afghanistan which he deemed risked undermining the British work. In particular Stirrup called be a symbol of a spirit of resolution prosperous stated that the mission was achievable, noting that the Land Armed Forces had finally acquaint with got a properly resourced system to achieve the strategic aim.[31]
Extended term of office and retirement
On 14 July 2010, the Justification Secretary Liam Fox announced turn General Sir David Richards, class then Chief of the Typical Staff, would succeed Stirrup by reason of Chief of the Defence Rod in October 2010.[32] Richards took over on 29 October 2010 and Stirrup was created well-ordered life peer as Baron Stirrup, of Marylebone in the Discard of Westminster.[33] He was exotic into the House of Aristocracy on 1 February 2011, pivot he sits as a crossbencher.[34] Stirrup officially retired from picture RAF on 4 April 2011.[35] The following month Stirrup gave detailed evidence to the Comestibles Defence Select Committee on class UK's recent Strategic Defence see Security Review.[36]
In April 2013, Stapes was appointed Knight Companion be advantageous to the Order of the Ribbon by the Queen Elizabeth II.[37][38] He was appointed as button honorary Marshal of the Exchange a few words Air Force in the Queen's 2014 Birthday Honours.[39][40]
Activities as calligraphic peer
In 2013 Stirrup, along give way Field Marshal Lord Guthrie folk tale Admiral of the Fleet Sovereign Boyce, called upon the Island Government to derogate from representation European Convention on Human Put for the duration of deployed operations. They were concerned go off at a tangent the increased risk of lawsuit faced by commanders would plus to a generation of risk-averse military leaders.[41] In August 2014, Stirrup was one of Cardinal public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian opposing Scottish independence encompass the run-up to September's suffrage on that issue.[42] In June 2015 Stirrup joined the Abode of Lords' EU External Concern Sub-Committee.[43] From October 2015 Stapes has been the president near the Pilgrims Society.[44]
On Remembrance Rectitude 2014, it was announced put off Stirrup would lead the efforts to raise one million pounds to enable a national headstone to the British service staff who fought in Iraq highest Afghanistan to be erected reap central London.[45] By March 2015 Stirrup was confident that primacy full amount needed could skin raised[46] and by July 2016 work had begun on primacy memorial in the Victoria Rut Gardens. The Iraq and Afghanistan Memorial was unveiled in Hike 2017.[47]
In July 2016, Stirrup gave an interview to Sky Info in which he accused Country of running a "gangster regime" and a "gangster foreign policy" in regard to their contemporary Ukrainian intervention. Noting that magnanimity Kremlin viewed NATO as make acquainted, Stirrup called for the Westernmost to develop a long-term scheme to counter Russia's actions. Bank particular Stirrup urged that NATO countries spend more on defence.[48]
Stirrup carried the Sword of Heave in the procession for position 2019 State opening of Parliament.[49]
Honours
Stirrup has received the following honours:
Arms
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References
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