THE UNIT

90 Signals Unit falls under the Support Force.  It was formed on the 1 April 2006 bringing together existing Air Combat Service Support Units charged with communications related tasks; this includes:

The perform communications tasks to prepare, deploy, sustain and recover information services for multi-domain operations and exercises.  This secures Air’s cyber terrain and digital services to improve operational and corporate effectiveness with the use of technology.

Mission

To enable Air and Space power by generating freedom of action and mission assurance in cyberspace. 

Vision

To deliver information advantage for the Next Generation Royal Air Force.

Location

90 Signals Unit, RAF Leeming, Northallerton, DL7 9NJ.

BASED AT

Commanding Officer

Group Captain Paul Jennings MA MSc BEng CEng MIET RAF

Group Captain Jennings is a Cyberspace officer whose service has included tactical communications, cyber operations and capability development. He attended Leeds Beckett University, graduating in 2001 with a degree in Electronic Engineering.

Joining the RAF in 2002, after completing his training he was posted to Belgium as a Flight Systems Manager for NATO’s Tactical Leadership Programme before returning to the UK in 2006 as a Flight Commander within 90 Signals Unit, deploying three times to the Middle East (Op Telic and Op Herrick). A subsequent Exchange Officer assignment with the United States Air Force’s 5th Combat Comms Group saw him supporting U.S. Ops Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom in addition to deploying on U.S. Humanitarian Relief Operations.

Following a short stint at Defence Intelligence in 2011 supporting Op Ellamy, Jennings was promoted to Squadron Leader and sent on Exchange for the second time with the United States Air Force’s 24th Air Force, the cyber service component to United States Cyber Command, as the J3 Division Chief. He returned to 90 Signals Unit in 2015 to take command of 2 Field Comms Squadron where he oversaw the delivery of CIS to Ops Kipion, Shader and Azotize as well as contributing to the RAF’s evolving cyber strategy. 

Promoted to Wing Commander in 2017, Jennings held two SO1 positions within UKStratCom as both Cap C4ISR Desk Officer and Joint User Cyber, securing funding for future cyber programmes and developing the MOD’s Cyber Security Operations Capability concepts. In 2020 he was appointed to command the Joint Defensive Cyber Unit, leading the day to day sub-threshold activity to secure and defend MOD’s critical IT infrastructure. 

Jennings was appointed Commanding Officer of 90 Signals Unit on promotion to Group Captain in 2022.