Michael Wigston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Air Chief Marshal
Sir Michael Wigston
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Air Chief Marshal Wigston in 2022
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| Born | 25 February 1968 |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1986–2023 |
| Rank | Air Chief Marshal |
| Commands held | Chief of the Air Staff (2019–2023) British Forces Cyprus (2015–17) No. 903 Expeditionary Air Wing (2008) No. 12 Squadron (2005–07) |
| Battles/wars | War in Afghanistan Iraq War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire |
| Alma mater | Oriel College, Oxford King's College London |
Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Wigston was a very important officer in the Royal Air Force (RAF). He was born on February 25, 1968. From 2019 to 2023, he was the Chief of the Air Staff. This means he was the professional head of the entire RAF.
Contents
Early Life and School
Michael Wigston grew up in Wales and went to Friars School in Bangor. He then studied engineering at Oriel College, Oxford. Later, he went to King's College London to study defence, which is about how countries protect themselves.
Joining the Royal Air Force
Sir Michael joined the RAF in 1986. He started as a university cadet. He quickly moved up through the ranks. He flew Tornado planes, which are fast jet aircraft. He was part of several squadrons, which are groups of planes and pilots.
Important Roles and Missions
Sir Michael became a squadron leader in 2000. He then became a wing commander in 2003. He led No. 12 Squadron from 2005 to 2007. He also commanded No. 903 Expeditionary Air Wing during a mission in Iraq in 2007.
He worked at the Ministry of Defence, which is like the government department for the military. In 2011, he was in charge of air operations in Afghanistan. He was also the Tornado Force Commander in 2013. He received an award, the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), for his work in Afghanistan.
Leading British Forces
In 2015, Sir Michael was promoted to air vice-marshal. He became the Commander of British Forces Cyprus. This meant he was in charge of all British military personnel in Cyprus. He also helped manage the Sovereign Base Areas there.
He continued to rise in the RAF. In 2017, he became the Assistant Chief of the Air Staff. In 2018, he was promoted to air marshal. He then became the Deputy Commander for Personnel, focusing on the people in the RAF.
Becoming Chief of the Air Staff
On July 26, 2019, Sir Michael Wigston became the Chief of the Air Staff. This is the highest professional role in the RAF. He was given another important award, the Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB), in 2020. His time as Chief of the Air Staff was extended to four years. He finished his role on June 2, 2023, and Sir Richard Knighton took over.
Focus on Fairness
When Sir Michael became the head of the RAF, he wanted to make sure that everyone, no matter their background, had a fair chance to succeed. He also knew that some people, especially women and those from minority groups, felt they weren't always treated fairly.
However, some of the ways the RAF tried to make things fairer caused problems. It was found that some white male employees were unfairly treated when it came to promotions. Sir Michael admitted that mistakes were made and apologized for them. He said it was important to learn from these errors to make sure everyone is treated fairly in the future.
After the RAF
Since January 2024, Sir Michael Wigston has been a visiting professor at the Freeman Air and Space Institute, which is part of King's College London.
