Wing Commander Kevin Marsh

Wing Commander Kevin Marsh MA BEng(Hons) CFS RAF joined the RAF at 18 years old in 1989 on a University Cadetship. He gained a BEng(Hons) degree in Aeromechanical Systems Engineering at the Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham in 1992 and was a member of Oxford University Air Squadron where he flew the Bulldog training aircraft. After Initial Officer Training at the RAF College Cranwell, Kevin was selected to complete his military flying training at the Euro-Nato Joint Jet Pilot Training chool, Texas flying the Cessna T-37 and Northrop T-38 aircraft where he gained his RAF Wings. On return to the UK he was selected to become an advanced flying training instructor on the Hawk T1 aircraft serving on 208 and 19(Fighter) Squadrons at RAF Valley, Wales; the first ab-initio “creamie” pilot to do so for many years. He began his operational career flying the Jaguar ground attack aircraft on 54(Fighter) Squadron, RAF Coltishall, Norfolk. During this tour he deployed several times to the Middle East on Operation WARDEN and RESINATE NORTH participating in operations over Northern Iraq. Following this tour he became a Qualified Flying Instructor on the Jaguar and was posted to 16(R) Squadron, the Jaguar Operational Conversion Unit.

On promotion to Squadron Leader in 2003 Kevin was posted to Headquarters Number 1 Group, RAF High Wycombe as the Jaguar Desk Officer responsible for operational and training policy for the Jaguar Force. He returned to RAF Coltishall as a Flight Commander on 6 Squadron in 2005 and oversaw the movement of the squadron to RAF Coningsby and, sadly, the disbandment of the Jaguar Force in 2007. He was selected to be the Project Officer for Prince William’s RAF attachment, Project GOLDEN KESTREL which culminated in the award of the Prince’s RAF Wings in 2008. Following a brief attachment to the Army as the Air Staff Officer at the Land Warfare Centre, Warminster he was promoted to Wing Commander in July 2008.

Wing Commander Marsh attended the Joint Services Command and Staff College, Shrivenham in 2008 where he also studied for an MA in Defence Studies; his dissertation on the Psychological Use of Air Power was published in 2010. He was subsequently posted to the Theatre Airspace Capability Area, Ministry of Defence, London where he was responsible for a number of high-profile projects which deliver Air Training capability across Defence, including the UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS).

Wing Commander Marsh has achieved over 3000 hours of fast jet flying thus far and took up his current post as Officer Commanding 19 (Fighter) Squadron in June 2011 where he is responsible for delivering training to all Fast Jet pilots on the state-of-the-art Hawk T2 aircraft as part of UKMFTS. Kevin is the RAF representative at the Princes William and Harry Charities Forum which coordinates their charitable work and was a member of the Guard of Honour at the Royal Wedding in April 2011. Kevin is married to Nicki, has 2 daughters and a son. He is a keen sailor, cyclist and runner.