Portrait of Air Commodore Bill Gibson

Air Commodore Bill Gibson

MBE ADC MA RAFR

Air Officer Scotland supports the Air Force Board Executive Committee, through the Assistant Chief of the Air Staff, in order to enhance the public image and positive awareness of the RAF across Scotland in line with the Defence Mission, the RAF Command Plan and the RAF Engagement Strategy by establishing and maintaining close liaison and working relationship with:

  • Leaders and Officials of the Scottish Government, Local Authorities and Community Councils
  • Lord Lieutenants
  • Regional senior Royal Navy and Army representatives
  • Academia
  • Industry
  • Charities (esp Service Charities)
  • Veterans

Details

Air Commodore Bill Gibson was born and educated in Scotland. He commenced his military career with the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde Air Squadron and graduated from Strathclyde University with an Honours Degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering in 1983.

Following officer and flying training in the UK and USA, Gibson qualified as a Tornado GR1 pilot in 1987 and was posted to RAF Bruggen in Germany. He completed 3 front-line tours, which included operational flying in the Middle East, and an instructional tour on XV(R) Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth. A Qualified Weapons Instructor, Gibson subsequently took command of XV(R) Squadron in 2002 and, following re-qualification on the Hawk, was appointed Station Commander of RAF Leeming, Yorkshire in 2008. In 2010 he deployed to Afghanistan where he was Deputy Commander Fire and Effects in Regional Command HQ (SW).

In staff roles, Gibson worked in the MOD as Desk Officer for the Future Offensive Air System and in HQ USAF A8 in the Pentagon, where he was Division Chief Future Concepts and Transformation.  His final tour in the RAF was as Assistant Air Attaché in the British Defence Staff USA, based in the British Embassy in Washington DC.        

A graduate of the UK Advanced Command and Staff Course and the USAF Air Warfare College, Gibson also attended the Royal College of Defence Studies. He also participated in the RAF Senior Leadership Programme and completed the Certificate and Diploma courses in Company Direction with the Institute of Directors.

Gibson left regular service in the rank of Group Captain in 2015 and was immediately commissioned into the RAF Reserve. He spent 7 years in full-time service as the Mentor to II(AC) Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth. Following a break of 18 months, he re-joined the RAF Reserve in January 2024 and was appointed Air Officer Scotland.   

For the past 6 years Gibson has served as the RAF Benevolent Fund endorsed Director on the Board of the MacRobert Trust, a Scottish charity with deep historic connections to the RAF. He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2022.     

Gibson has over 4000 hours of military and civilian flying experience and attained the FAI Diamond Award for gliding in 1990. He now occupies his spare time with walking and golf.  His wife is a keen amateur gardener and an enthusiastic needleworker.

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