Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach

Air Chief Marshal Peach was appointed ViceChief of the Defence Staff on 10 May 2013.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach was bornin 1956 in the West Midlands. He was educated at Aldridge Grammar School, theUniversity of Sheffield (BA), University of Cambridge (MPhil), RAF StaffCollege and the Joint Services Command and Staff College (HCSC). He holds twohonorary Doctorates from Kingston University and University of Sheffield.

Commissioned into the Royal Air Force in1977, he flew Canberras in the photographic reconnaissance role prior to threesuccessive tours on Tornado GR1 in the UK and Germany, qualifying as a weaponsand electronic warfare instructor. He commanded IX (Bomber) Squadron at RAFBrüggen in Germany 1994-1996. Staff tours include personal staff officer to theDeputy Commander and Commander-in-Chief in RAF Germany, Executive Officer toCommander Second Allied Tactical Air Force and Director Defence Studies RoyalAir Force. Operational service includes Belize, Hong Kong and Germany in the 1980s, Deputy Commander British Forces in Turkey (OpWarden), UK Head Military Coordination Centre Zakho (Iraq), DetachmentCommander in Saudi Arabia (Op Jural), Commander British Forces in Italy (OpEngadine), Air Commander (Forward) in HQ KFOR on Kosovo and Deputy SeniorBritish Military Adviser in US HQ Central Command 2001-2002.

He commanded the Air Warfare Centre at RAFWaddington from 2000 to 2003, was Director General Intelligence Collection inthe Ministry of Defence 2003-2006 and Chief of Defence Intelligence and Deputy Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee 2006-2009. He held the appointmentof Chief of Joint Operations at PJHQ(UK) from March 2009-December 2011 beforebecoming the first Commander of the UK Joint Forces Command from December2011-Apr 2013. He was appointed as Vice Chief of Defence Staff in May 2013.