Assistant Chief of the Air Staff

Assistant Chief of the Air Staff
Ensign of the Royal Air Force (ACAS Command Flag)
Incumbent Air Vice-Marshal Suraya Marshall since June 2024
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

The Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (ACAS) is a senior appointment in the Royal Air Force. The current ACAS is Air Vice-Marshal Suraya Marshall.

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

• 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]
• 2021–2023: Simon Edwards
• 2023–2024: Tim Jones
• 2024–present: Suraya Marshall

References

1. Barrass, M. B. "Air Council Appointments: Assistant Chief of the Air Staff". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation.
2. "Air Command senior, as of September 2015". Ministry of Defence. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
3. "Senior Commanders: Assistant Chief of Air Staff (ACAS)". Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
4. "Air Rank Appointments List". Royal Air Force. August 2009. Retrieved 27 October 2009.
5. "Air Rank Appointments List". Royal Air Force. March 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
6. "Air Rank and Command Appointments List". Royal Air Force. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
7. "Senior Appointments". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
8. "Senior Appointments". raf.mod.uk. Royal Air Force. 15 March 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
9. "Senior Appointments". raf.mod.uk. Royal Air Force. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2019.