Following a thorough selection process, including an interview with the Air & Space Commander, Air Officer Commanding No 22 Group, and Director Legal Services, Group Captain Al Lewis is appointed Commandant RAF Air Cadets in the rank of Air Commodore, effective 23 September 2024.
He succeeds Air Commodore Tony Keeling OBE, who is retiring from the Service. Group Captain Lewis is currently Commandant of London & South East Region RAF Air Cadets, and the process to identify a successor is underway.
Gp Capt Lewis said, “I have been humbled by the support over past months and thrilled to be appointed into such a prestigious role as Commandant RAF Air Cadets. As someone who is hugely passionate about the way our outputs change the lives of cadets, I am honoured to lead its dedicated volunteers and permanent staff who deliver so much for our cadets.
I am excited by the challenges that lie ahead and am confident that with your support, and my region/delivery perspective, we can collectively bring a fresh purpose and continuing relevancy through our safe and challenging activities, whilst reshaping and professionalising our organisation.”
Group Captain Al Lewis joined the Royal Air Force as a graduate entry in April 1994 and completed junior officer tours at RAF Kinloss as a Nimrod MR2 JEngO, RAF Cosford as OC Line Training Flight and RAF Wyton as an Engineering Authority for the RAF’s BAe 146s and HS125s. During these tours he supported Nimrod exercises and operations on numerous detachments, including the Falkland Islands and the Middle East.
On promotion to Squadron Leader in March 2003, Gp Capt Lewis worked as a member of the Partnered Support solution team with BAES at Warton on the Nimrod MRA4 programme, before completing his SEngO appointment on 101 Sqn at RAF Brize Norton at the time overseeing worldwide operations of the VC10 aircraft fleet. He left command to become the Talent Manager for Squadron Leader Aerosystem Engineer Officers. He attended Advanced Command and Staff College (ACSC12) from September 2008 and was promoted to Wing Commander in January 2009. Upon leaving ACSC, he was appointed as Deputy Chief of Staff in Headquarters 1 Group with a further posting as the Engineer Branch and Trade Sponsor from Sep 2011. Gp Capt Lewis took command of Engineering and Logistics Wing at RAF Brize Norton in September 2012 where he was also the Chief Air Engineer to the Delivery Duty Holder for all Air Mobility assets and Airborne Delivery/Airborne Forces Equipment. Gp Capt Lewis was posted from RAF Brize Norton to take up a staff post in Air Command HQ Resources and Plans in September 2014.
He left the Regular RAF in September 2015 to take up a Full-Time Reservist role as Regional Commandant for London and South East Region RAF Air Cadets, based at RAF Northolt.
Group Captain Lewis lives with his wife, Sarah, in Lane End near Marlow, Buckinghamshire, and they have 2 grown up children. He is a keen cyclist on road and mountain bikes, and to relax he enjoys country walks with his family and dog.