Clive Loader
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| Clive Robert Loader | |
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| Born 24 September 1953 | |
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| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1973–2009 |
| Rank | Air Chief Marshal |
| Commands held | Air Command RAF Laarbruch 3(F) Sqn |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Officer of the Order of the British Empire |
Air Chief Marshal Sir Clive Robert Loader KCB OBE ADC FRAeS RAF (born 24 September 1953) is a retired Royal Air Force Officer and was the first Commander-in-Chief Air Command (CinC AIR).
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[edit] Early life
He was educated at The Judd School Tonbridge. He attended the University of Southampton. Air Chief Marshal Loader joined the RAF in 1973.
[edit] Military career
After flying training, he was posted to Harriers, serving tours on No 1(F) Squadron at RAF Wittering and IV (Army Cooperation) Squadron at RAF Gütersloh, Germany. After an instructional tour on the Operational Conversion Unit (during which he displayed the Harrier) he was promoted to Squadron Leader (1984), and served as a Flight Commander in Germany. Staff College (1988) was followed by 10 months on the Harrier Role Desk in the MOD prior to being promoted to Wing Commander (1989). After a short tour at Rheindahlen, he became Personal Staff Officer to the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RAF Strike Command (Sir Michael Graydon).
Air Chief Marshal Loader then commanded No 3 (Fighter) Squadron, at RAF Laarbruch (1993 to 1995). The Squadron participated in operations over Northern Iraq and Bosnia, as well as being the first Germany-based Harrier Squadron to convert to night operations. Promoted to Group Captain in 1995, he then attended the Higher Command and Staff College. He took command of RAF Laarbruch in October 1996, the Station at that time comprising 2 Harrier GR7 squadrons, 2 RAF Regiment squadrons (Rapier and Field), and HQ Tactical Survive to Operate Wing - in all, some 2300 Service personnel plus a further 4500 civilians and dependants. Air Chief Marshal Loader flew the last Harrier aircraft out of RAF Laarbruch when the Station closed in May 1999.
A short tour in MOD Air Plans (latterly Air RP) followed, after which he was promoted to Air Commodore (1999) to lead the RAF Admin Support Study. He served (2000 to 2001) as Air Commodore Harrier, HQ 3 Group where he was responsible for RAF and RN Harriers. After a 10 month tour (2001 to 2002) in the UK Permanent Joint Headquarters (ACOS J3) he was promoted to Air Vice-Marshal and appointed as ACDS(Ops). He was appointed as Deputy Commander-in-Chief RAF Strike Command, in the rank of Air Marshal, in June 2004. He was promoted to Air Chief Marshal in February 2007 and appointed as the first Commander-in-Chief of Air Command on 1 April 2007. He relinquished this post upon retiring on 3 April 2009.
[edit] Personal life
In 1976 he married Alison Leith. They have three sons who were all educated at Bedford School, of which he is a school governor. He is a keen military historian.
[edit] External links
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by R M Thomas |
Officer Commanding No 3(F) Squadron 1993 – 1995 |
Succeeded by A F P Dezonie |
| Preceded by M G F White |
Station Commander RAF Laarbruch 1996 – 1999 |
Post disestablished - Station Closed May 1999 |
| Preceded by Unknown |
Air Commodore Harrier 2000 – 2001 |
Succeeded by Unknown |
| Preceded by Unknown |
Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Operations) 2002 – 2004 |
Succeeded by Nick Houghton |
| Preceded by Sir Glenn Torpy |
Deputy Commander-in-Chief RAF Strike Command 2004–2007 |
Succeeded by Iain McNicoll |
| New title Command established by merging:
Strike Command (C-in-C Joe French) Personnel and Training Command (C-in-C Barry Thornton) |
Commander-in-Chief Air Command 2007–2009 |
Succeeded by Sir Chris Moran |
