The Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (ACAS) is the 2-star commander of Air Command’s Central Business Pillar. ACAS is responsible for central coordination of Air and Space Command strategic planning, strategic engagement and decision-making through provision of Insights and Analysis. ACAS also oversees Air and Space media and communication, performance and risk management and is the RAF’s senior representative in the Ministry of Defence.
Air Vice-Marshal Cab Townsend was commissioned into the Royal Air Force in March 1992. Following flying training, he was posted to the Harrier Force spending the next 9 years on the front-line and becoming a Qualified Weapons Instructor in 2000. Townsend deployed on operations to the Balkans in 1998, Iraq in 2003 (where he received a Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service) and Afghanistan.
Promoted to wing commander in 2007, he was posted to the Directorate of Joint Capability (MOD, London) where, as SO1 Joint Target Effects, he was the subject matter expert for all Combat Air matters. Townsend attended the Advanced Command and Staff Course at JSCSC Shrivenham in 2009 completing a Master’s degree in Defence Studies and was posted back to the Harrier GR9 to take command of 1(F) Sqn. However, the cancellation of Harrier in 2010 forced another career path! Seeking further ’operational challenge’, he volunteered for the post of Chief of Staff Operations at 83 Expeditionary Air Group, Al Udeid Air Base where he spent 6 months as the UK ‘Red Card Holder’.
Townsend took command of Number 3(Fighter) Squadron flying Typhoon in April 2012. During his two years in Command, he led the Squadron’s deployment to Lithuania conducting Baltic Air Policing and conducted a number of high-profile Defence Engagement activities in the Middle East. Townsend joined the Lightning Force HQ in 2014 before commanding RAF Marham between July 2017 and July 2019. During this period, the Station sustained Tornado GR4 operational output, enabled Tornado’s successful retirement and simultaneously generated F35B Lightning Initial Operating Capability including its first operational deployment. Townsend was appointed CBE in 2020 for his leadership at RAF Marham. He took command of 903 Expeditionary Air Wing at RAF Akrotiri in September 2019 responsible for the delivery of mission-ready air capabilities across the Middle East. He was promoted to Air Commodore in March 2020 taking up post as the Assistant Chief of Staff (ACOS) Capability Strategy at Air Command and transitioned to the role of ACOS Combat Air in December 2021 responsible for F35B Lightning, Typhoon, weapons, and operational training including synthetics. Townsend was promoted to Air Vice-Marshal in May 2023 becoming Director Training / Air Officer Commanding No 22 Group. He became the Assistant Chief of the Air Staff in November 2025.
Townsend is married to Jo and has 2 adult children. Townsend is a Level 6 rugby union referee officiating for both the RAF and Buckinghamshire Referees Society. He is also President of the 3(F) Sqn Association, Chair of United Kingdom Armed Forces Rugby Union and social mobility champion for the RAF.
