The Chief of the Air Staff is the 4-star commander and professional head of the Royal Air Force.
He is accountable to the Secretary of State for its fighting effectiveness, efficiency and morale.
Reporting through the Chief of the Defence Staff, he is responsible for the development, generation, integration and sustainment of the RAF in accordance with Defence policy and priorities to meet CDS strategic objectives.
I am deeply honoured to have been selected as the next Chief of the Air Staff at such an important time for the Royal Air Force. The Strategic Defence Review makes clear the need for us to rapidly evolve and modernise to meet current and future threats and I am enormously proud to lead the Service at such a crucial point in our history.
Born and educated in Northern Ireland, Smyth joined the RAF in 1991 and spent 15 years as a frontline Harrier pilot and weapons instructor. He has flown hundreds of operational missions from both land bases and aircraft carriers.
Smyth was promoted to Air Marshal (3*) in 2022 and appointed as the RAF’s Deputy Commander (Operations) becoming the UK Air and Space Commander in 2023, responsible for all RAF’s air and space operations globally.
In April 2024 Smyth became the first RAF officer to hold the role of Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Military Strategy and Operations - DCDS (MSO)), responsible for the provision of military advice to senior leadership across government, the development of UK military strategy and its integration with partners across government and allies, and the commissioning of UK military operations at home and across the globe. During this tour Smyth was a routine member of COBR and the National Security Council.
Smyth is a Patron of the Jon Egging Trust (a charity supporting troubled teenagers) and an ambassador for the RAF Charitable Trust. Smyth is proud to be Honorary Colonel for the 2nd Battalion (Northern Ireland) Army Cadet Force, Senior Mentor to the Northern Ireland Universities’ Air Squadron (NIUAS), and Patron of the Ulster Aviation Society, Ireland’s sole military aircraft museum.
2003 - Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
2010 - Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
2013 - US Meritorious Service Medal
2018 - US Legion of Merit
2020 - Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)
2026 - Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB)
