58:
341:
In that role she was "responsible for the procurement and maintenance of all combat aircraft, training aircraft and remotely-piloted air systems for the armed forces". She is the second female officer to be promoted to non-honorary
847:
1131:
1111:
393:
878:
516:
1126:
1121:
1151:
1146:
420:
178:
160:
486:
954:
1101:
1156:
1116:
1004:
839:
312:
192:
48:
1106:
591:
451:
276:. On 15 June 1992, she moved from a Short Service Commission to a Permanent Commission, and therefore extended her service time to retirement age.
447:
1141:
870:
335:
214:
817:
741:
508:
385:
185:
164:
908:
347:
331:
210:
478:
950:
435:
397:
370:
who had been promoted to air vice-marshal in August 2013. In
February 2016, it was announced that she would be the next
443:
283:(RAF). Since then, Gray served in the RAF. On 1 July 1994, as part of the half-yearly promotions, she was promoted to
42:
20:
783:
261:
997:"Air Vice Marshal Sue Gray visiting Air Cdre Dame Felicity Hill to present her with flowers on her 100th birthday"
996:
355:
1069:
416:
300:
225:
1033:
378:
583:
1136:
1040:
371:
218:
424:
389:
316:
288:
272:
on 18 February 1989. In 1991, she was deployed with the
Support Helicopter Force to Iraq as part of the
245:
1161:
412:
363:
976:
693:
653:
613:
249:
713:
633:
558:
538:
57:
981:
935:
768:
718:
698:
678:
658:
638:
618:
563:
543:
408:
930:
763:
809:
673:
269:
45:
733:
1043:
374:
327:
221:
135:
431:
400:. She handed over command of No. 38 Group to Air Commodore Simon Ellard in December 2018.
292:
284:
280:
229:
206:
107:
1061:
265:
871:"RAF Engineer becomes most senior woman to have ever served in Britain's armed forces"
840:"Air Vice Marshal Sue Gray appointed Director General of the Defence Safety Authority"
1095:
1079:
343:
320:
900:
351:
404:
367:
287:. On 1 January 2001, as part of the half-yearly promotions, she was promoted to
241:
125:
32:
439:
359:
319:
and, on 1 January, as part of the half-yearly promotions, she was promoted to
198:
415:. Between March 2019, and January 2022, she was the Director General of the
784:"50 engineering leaders become Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering"
787:
296:
279:
In 1994, the Women's Royal Air Force merged into the previously all-male
273:
150:
146:
228:(2019â22). She is the most senior female officer ever to serve in the
403:
On 20 February 2019, it was announced that Gray had been promoted to
291:. In 2003, she was once more deployed to Iraq, this time as part of
473:
471:
469:
467:
377:. She took up the appointment on 16 June 2016 in succession to
411:: she thereby became the most senior female officer in the
578:
576:
574:
951:"The Military Division of the New Year Honours 2022"
248:(now the Northumbria University), graduating with a
662:(Supplement). 2 January 2001. pp. 14622â14623.
509:"Air Vice-Marshal promotion for Newcastle graduate"
362:or air vice marshal in the Royal Air Force) in the
156:
142:
131:
121:
113:
101:
93:
75:
67:
30:
1132:Female fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering
1112:Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire
421:Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
209:officer. She served as Director of Combat Air at
161:Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
622:(Supplement). 21 September 1992. p. 15846.
407:, and thus becomes Britain's first ever female
19:For other people named Susan Gray or Grey, see
642:(Supplement). 4 July 1994. pp. 9611â9612.
240:Gray was born on 21 October 1963. She studied
8:
722:(Supplement). 4 February 2014. p. 2237.
702:(Supplement). 4 January 2005. p. 16360.
1127:Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering
772:(Supplement). 31 December 2016. p. N2.
205:; born 21 October 1963) is a former senior
1122:Female air marshals of the Royal Air Force
1022:
985:(Supplement). 12 July 2022. p. 13135.
682:(Supplement). 31 December 2004. p. 6.
567:(Supplement). 20 March 1989. p. 3494.
547:(Supplement). 17 March 1986. p. 3843.
366:since the Second World War; the first was
313:Officer of the Order of the British Empire
224:(2016â18), and as Director-General of the
56:
27:
1152:Royal Air Force personnel of the Iraq War
1147:Royal Air Force personnel of the Gulf War
939:(Supplement). 1 January 2022. p. N7.
590:. Ministry of Defence. 30 December 2013.
326:On 29 January 2014, Gray was promoted to
479:"RAF appoints 2nd 2-star female officer"
452:Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
330:and appointed Director of Combat Air at
901:"Air Marshal Steve Shell CB OBE MA RAF"
463:
448:Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal
299:) and served as Chief Engineer for the
260:Gray joined the Engineer Branch of the
16:Royal Air Force Air Marshal (born 1963)
869:Nicholls, Dominic (20 February 2019).
1003:. Royal Air Force. 15 December 2015.
957:from the original on 31 December 2021
881:from the original on 20 February 2019
846:. Royal Air Force. 20 February 2019.
197:
7:
1102:21st-century British women engineers
816:. Royal Air Force. 5 December 2018.
740:. Royal Air Force. 8 February 2016.
489:from the original on 9 February 2019
264:(WRAF) in 1985. She was promoted to
1117:Companions of the Order of the Bath
850:from the original on 16 April 2021
594:from the original on 8 August 2016
386:Companion of the Order of the Bath
165:Companion of the Order of the Bath
14:
446:. She is also a recipient of the
1157:Women's Royal Air Force officers
1107:Alumni of Northumbria University
1007:from the original on 1 June 2016
911:from the original on 26 May 2022
820:from the original on 5 July 2017
744:from the original on 5 July 2017
584:"Second female Air-Vice Marshal"
519:from the original on 2 June 2016
1:
430:Gray is a recipient of three
332:Defence Equipment and Support
211:Defence Equipment and Support
1142:Royal Air Force air marshals
427:. Gray retired in May 2022.
398:Royal Academy of Engineering
268:on 18 February 1986, and to
1178:
18:
1076:
1066:
1058:
1050:
1038:
1030:
1025:
174:Dame Susan Catherine Gray
55:
1070:Defence Safety Authority
417:Defence Safety Authority
236:Early life and education
226:Defence Safety Authority
262:Women's Royal Air Force
1041:Air Officer Commanding
372:Air Officer Commanding
301:Joint Helicopter Force
219:Air Officer Commanding
71:Susan Catherine Jessop
810:"Senior Appointments"
734:"Senior Appointments"
436:General Service Medal
425:2022 New Year Honours
390:2017 New Year Honours
317:2005 New Year Honours
246:Newcastle Polytechnic
114:Years of service
790:on 21 September 2018
515:. 30 December 2013.
485:. UK Defence Forum.
419:. She was appointed
413:British Armed Forces
392:, and was elected a
364:British Armed Forces
384:Gray was appointed
336:Ministry of Defence
311:Gray was appointed
250:Bachelor of Science
215:Ministry of Defence
982:The London Gazette
936:The London Gazette
769:The London Gazette
719:The London Gazette
699:The London Gazette
679:The London Gazette
659:The London Gazette
639:The London Gazette
619:The London Gazette
564:The London Gazette
544:The London Gazette
483:Defence Viewpoints
409:three-star officer
1086:
1085:
1077:Succeeded by
1068:Director-General
1051:Succeeded by
1026:Military offices
270:flight lieutenant
170:
169:
1169:
1059:Preceded by
1031:Preceded by
1023:
1017:
1016:
1014:
1012:
993:
987:
986:
973:
967:
966:
964:
962:
947:
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927:
921:
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918:
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859:
857:
855:
836:
830:
829:
827:
825:
806:
800:
799:
797:
795:
786:. Archived from
780:
774:
773:
760:
754:
753:
751:
749:
730:
724:
723:
710:
704:
703:
690:
684:
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670:
664:
663:
650:
644:
643:
630:
624:
623:
610:
604:
603:
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580:
569:
568:
555:
549:
548:
535:
529:
528:
526:
524:
505:
499:
498:
496:
494:
475:
328:air vice-marshal
201:
195:
190:
183:
103:
89:
85:
83:
60:
28:
1177:
1176:
1172:
1171:
1170:
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1166:
1092:
1091:
1088:
1082:
1073:
1064:
1054:
1047:
1036:
1021:
1020:
1010:
1008:
995:
994:
990:
975:
974:
970:
960:
958:
949:
948:
944:
929:
928:
924:
914:
912:
899:
898:
894:
884:
882:
868:
867:
863:
853:
851:
838:
837:
833:
823:
821:
808:
807:
803:
793:
791:
782:
781:
777:
762:
761:
757:
747:
745:
732:
731:
727:
712:
711:
707:
692:
691:
687:
672:
671:
667:
652:
651:
647:
632:
631:
627:
612:
611:
607:
597:
595:
582:
581:
572:
557:
556:
552:
537:
536:
532:
522:
520:
507:
506:
502:
492:
490:
477:
476:
465:
460:
432:campaign medals
309:
293:Operation Telic
285:squadron leader
281:Royal Air Force
258:
256:Military career
238:
230:Royal Air Force
207:Royal Air Force
188:
181:
177:
163:
149:
108:Royal Air Force
87:
86:21 October 1963
81:
79:
63:
51:
40:
39:
36:
35:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1175:
1173:
1165:
1164:
1159:
1154:
1149:
1144:
1139:
1134:
1129:
1124:
1119:
1114:
1109:
1104:
1094:
1093:
1084:
1083:
1078:
1075:
1065:
1062:Richard Felton
1060:
1056:
1055:
1052:
1049:
1037:
1032:
1028:
1027:
1019:
1018:
988:
968:
942:
922:
892:
861:
831:
801:
775:
755:
725:
705:
685:
665:
645:
625:
605:
570:
550:
530:
500:
462:
461:
459:
456:
308:
305:
289:wing commander
266:flying officer
257:
254:
237:
234:
217:(2014â16), as
168:
167:
158:
154:
153:
144:
140:
139:
133:
129:
128:
123:
119:
118:
115:
111:
110:
105:
99:
98:
97:United Kingdom
95:
91:
90:
77:
73:
72:
69:
65:
64:
61:
53:
52:
41:
37:
31:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1174:
1163:
1160:
1158:
1155:
1153:
1150:
1148:
1145:
1143:
1140:
1138:
1137:Living people
1135:
1133:
1130:
1128:
1125:
1123:
1120:
1118:
1115:
1113:
1110:
1108:
1105:
1103:
1100:
1099:
1097:
1090:
1081:
1080:Stephen Shell
1072:
1071:
1063:
1057:
1046:
1045:
1042:
1035:
1029:
1024:
1006:
1002:
998:
992:
989:
984:
983:
978:
972:
969:
956:
952:
946:
943:
938:
937:
932:
926:
923:
910:
906:
902:
896:
893:
880:
876:
875:The Telegraph
872:
865:
862:
849:
845:
841:
835:
832:
819:
815:
811:
805:
802:
789:
785:
779:
776:
771:
770:
765:
759:
756:
743:
739:
735:
729:
726:
721:
720:
715:
709:
706:
701:
700:
695:
689:
686:
681:
680:
675:
669:
666:
661:
660:
655:
649:
646:
641:
640:
635:
629:
626:
621:
620:
615:
609:
606:
593:
589:
585:
579:
577:
575:
571:
566:
565:
560:
554:
551:
546:
545:
540:
534:
531:
518:
514:
510:
504:
501:
488:
484:
480:
474:
472:
470:
468:
464:
457:
455:
453:
449:
445:
441:
437:
433:
428:
426:
423:(DBE) in the
422:
418:
414:
410:
406:
401:
399:
395:
391:
387:
382:
380:
376:
373:
369:
365:
361:
357:
353:
349:
348:major general
345:
344:two-star rank
339:
337:
333:
329:
324:
322:
321:air commodore
318:
315:(OBE) in the
314:
306:
304:
302:
298:
294:
290:
286:
282:
277:
275:
271:
267:
263:
255:
253:
251:
247:
243:
235:
233:
231:
227:
223:
220:
216:
212:
208:
204:
200:
194:
187:
180:
175:
166:
162:
159:
155:
152:
148:
145:
141:
137:
134:
130:
127:
124:
120:
116:
112:
109:
106:
100:
96:
92:
88:(age 60)
78:
74:
70:
66:
59:
54:
50:
47:
44:
38:Dame Sue Gray
34:
29:
26:
22:
1087:
1067:
1053:Simon Ellard
1044:No. 38 Group
1039:
1009:. Retrieved
1000:
991:
980:
971:
959:. Retrieved
945:
934:
925:
913:. Retrieved
904:
895:
883:. Retrieved
874:
864:
852:. Retrieved
843:
834:
822:. Retrieved
813:
804:
794:21 September
792:. Retrieved
788:the original
778:
767:
758:
746:. Retrieved
737:
728:
717:
708:
697:
688:
677:
668:
657:
648:
637:
628:
617:
608:
596:. Retrieved
587:
562:
553:
542:
533:
521:. Retrieved
512:
503:
491:. Retrieved
482:
429:
402:
388:(CB) in the
383:
375:No. 38 Group
356:rear admiral
352:British Army
340:
325:
310:
278:
259:
239:
222:No. 38 Group
202:
173:
172:Air Marshal
171:
143:Battles/wars
136:No. 38 Group
62:Gray in 2019
25:
1162:1963 births
977:"No. 63754"
961:31 December
931:"No. 63571"
885:20 February
764:"No. 61803"
714:"No. 60771"
694:"No. 57521"
674:"No. 57509"
654:"No. 56078"
634:"No. 53724"
614:"No. 53054"
559:"No. 51680"
539:"No. 50461"
405:air marshal
368:Elaine West
307:Air officer
242:electronics
126:Air Marshal
33:Air Marshal
1096:Categories
1074:2019â2022
1048:2016â2018
1034:Tim Bishop
1001:raf.mod.uk
953:. GOV.UK.
824:5 December
814:raf.mod.uk
738:raf.mod.uk
458:References
444:Iraq Medal
442:, and the
440:Gulf Medal
379:Tim Bishop
360:Royal Navy
94:Allegiance
82:1963-10-21
68:Birth name
21:Susan Grey
138:(2016â18)
117:1985â2022
1011:30 April
1005:Archived
955:Archived
909:Archived
879:Archived
854:16 March
848:Archived
844:RAF News
818:Archived
748:29 April
742:Archived
598:29 April
592:Archived
523:30 April
517:Archived
513:ITV News
493:29 April
487:Archived
450:and the
297:Iraq War
274:Gulf War
252:degree.
151:Iraq War
147:Gulf War
132:Commands
102:Service/
396:of the
358:in the
350:in the
334:in the
213:in the
915:26 May
905:GOV.UK
588:gov.uk
438:, the
434:; the
394:Fellow
203:Jessop
157:Awards
104:branch
295:(the
193:FREng
191:
189:,
184:
182:,
49:FREng
1013:2016
963:2021
917:2022
887:2019
856:2019
826:2018
796:2018
750:2016
600:2016
525:2016
495:2016
122:Rank
76:Born
381:.
338:.
303:.
244:at
199:nÊe
179:DBE
43:DBE
1098::
1089:]
999:.
979:.
933:.
907:.
903:.
877:.
873:.
842:.
812:.
766:.
736:.
716:.
696:.
676:.
656:.
636:.
616:.
586:.
573:^
561:.
541:.
511:.
481:.
466:^
454:.
354:,
323:.
232:.
186:CB
176:,
84:)
46:CB
1015:.
965:.
919:.
889:.
858:.
828:.
798:.
752:.
602:.
527:.
497:.
346:(
196:(
80:(
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
