The Unit
RAF Safety Centre is an organisation which delivers effective total safety management and leads on intelligent application of critical thinking.
Based at
What we do
We provide independent assurance of the RAF Safety Management System underpinning CAS' commitment to total safety in order to maximise the delivery of RAF capability.
Air Officer Commanding
Inspector of Safety (RAF) - Air Commodore David J E Cooper CBE MA BEng (Hons) RAF
Air Commodore David Cooper joined the Royal Air Force as a fast-jet navigator and has accumulated over 1,500 flying hours on the Tornado GR1/GR4 and a range of training aircraft. His career spans front-line operations, instructional appointments, and senior headquarters roles, alongside extensive operational deployments worldwide.
During 32 years of service, he undertook operational tours in the Middle East, Africa, and Afghanistan. These included disaster relief operations following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and evacuation missions in Africa. His formative command appointments include Officer Commanding 617 Squadron (The Dambusters) and Commanding Officer Royal Air Force Marham. In addition, he has held senior operational Command and Control roles within the Royal Air Force and in joint headquarters, working closely with Royal Navy and British Army colleagues in multinational environments.
In 2014, Air Commodore Cooper served as Director of Air Operations in Kabul where he oversaw NATO air activity across Afghanistan. This was followed by appointment as the United Kingdom’s Joint Force Air Component Commander, subsequently completing the Higher Command and Staff Course in 2017. He successively served in the rank of Air Vice Marshal as Air Officer Commanding Number 2 Group with responsibility for the Royal Air Force’s air mobility and security forces.
From 2020, David worked with Nova Systems in UK industry as a General Manager, gaining over five years’ commercial leadership and P&L experience. While employed in the Defence engineering and technology sector, David continued to serve in the Royal Air Force Reserve.
Air Commodore Cooper returned to the Royal Air Force in 2026 for a permanent appointment as Inspector of Safety and Head of the Royal Air Force Safety Centre. In this role he leads independent assurance of the Royal Air Force Safety Management System across 13 domains. This strengthens safety governance, thus enabling the effective delivery of United Kingdom operational capability.
Air Commodore Cooper is a Trustee of the Royal Air Force Museum and President of the 617 Squadron Association.