Group Captain Paul (Pablo) O’Grady returns to RAF Coningsby as Station Commander for the Lincolnshire airbase, taking over from Group Captain William Cooper.
During his 28 years of Royal Air Force service, Group Captain O’Grady has flown Tucanos, Jaguars, Typhoons and displayed with the Red Arrows. He has completed flying tours at RAF Linton-on Ouse, RAF Coltishall, RAF Scampton, RAF Leuchars, the Falkland Islands, and RAF Coningsby. With quick reaction alert, operational and air policing tours to his credit, Group Captain O’Grady is an experienced pilot and commander.
He takes over from Group Captain William Cooper, who will remain at RAF Coningsby as Commander of the RAF Typhoon Air Wing.
Group Captain Cooper said: “It has been a true privilege to command RAF Coningsby. Coningsby is a brilliant Station, right at the forefront of RAF operations overseas and responsible for ensuring the integrity of UK airspace. The key to the Station’s success is the professionalism and commitment of the people who live and work here and I am immensely proud of all of them. I wish Group Captain O’Grady every success as Station Commander in what will no doubt be another busy period for Coningsby and Defence as a whole."
Until taking over as Station Commander at RAF Coningsby, Group Captain O’Grady’s favourite tour was Commanding Officer of XI (Fighter) Squadron, where he led the squadron during Operations Shader and Azotize as well as numerous international exercises.
He said: “Commanding an operational fighter squadron, responsible for delivering Air Power at a time and place of HM Government’s choosing is one of most rewarding jobs in the Royal Air Force. I took the most satisfaction from seeing the incredible teamwork, esprit de corps, and commitment of our people to get the job done no matter how challenging the circumstances.”
Group Captain O’Grady’s career has also included some critical non-flying roles. In addition to managing the careers of over 400 junior officers as the Fast-Jet Desk Officer at Air Command, he was more recently responsible for UK Air Defence, which he found especially rewarding given the importance of protecting our sovereign territory. The formal handover at RAF Coninsgby took place on Friday 2nd January.
Speaking of his appointment, the new Station Commander said: “Firstly, I would like to thank Group Captain Cooper for his commitment, leadership and dedication to RAF Coningsby; the Station and Typhoon force have achieved so much during his tenure and it is obvious to me that our people are thriving as a result of his time as the Station Commander. The opportunity to command an RAF Station comes only once so it’s an honour to be made the Station Commander at Coningsby. This will undoubtedly be my most rewarding tour to date, particularly at such an interesting and busy time in the Station’s life.”
Group Captain O’Grady added: “The RAF is extremely busy all over the world, and Coningsby’s role in supporting operations has seldom been more important. The Station has an abundance of talented people; service, civilian and contractors and I want to ensure their talents and abilities contribute to every aspect of what we do because it is our people that allow the Royal Air Force to fly, fight and win”.
