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Suraya Marshall

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Suraya Marshall
Marshall in 2024
Born1973 (age 50–51)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1994–present
RankAir Vice Marshal
CommandsNo. 2 Group RAF
Royal Air Force College Cranwell
No. 55 Squadron RAF
No. 92 Squadron RAF
Battles / warsIraq War
War in Afghanistan
AwardsCommander of the Order of the British Empire
Alma materUniversity of Nottingham
Spouse(s)Air Marshal Allan Marshall

Air Vice-Marshal Suraya Antonia Marshall, CBE (born 1973) is a senior Royal Air Force officer. She served as Air Officer Commanding No. 2 Group RAF from October 2021 to March 2024, and was appointed Assistant Chief of the Air Staff in June 2024.

Early life and education

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Marshall born in 1973 in York, Yorkshire, England.[1] She was educated at Queen Margaret's School, York, a private school.[1] She then studied law at University of Nottingham, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree in 1994.[1] While at university, she was a member of the East Midlands University Air Squadron.[2]

Military career

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Marshall joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a navigator,[3] and was commissioned with the rank of pilot officer on 9 October 1994.[4] She completed an MA from King's College London in 2000. She flew in the Tornado F3, and in 2000 became the first woman to pass the Qualified Weapons Instructor Course for the Tornado F3.[5] She served as Officer Commanding of No. 92 Squadron RAF and No. 55 Squadron RAF.[3][5] She was Director of Coalition Air Operations in the Middle East and Afghanistan during 2019.[5]

In November 2019, Marshall was appointed Commandant of the Royal Air Force College Cranwell, the RAF's aircrew and officer training academy, holding the rank of air commodore.[6] On 6 October 2021 she was promoted to air vice-marshal and appointed Air Officer Commanding No. 2 Group: she is the first woman to command one of the RAF's two operational groups.[5][7] As of November 2021, she is the highest ranking BAME person in the British military.[8] She was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2022 Birthday Honours.[9]

In May 2024, Marshall was announced as the next Assistant Chief of the Air Staff, in succession to Air Vice-Marshal Tim Jones.[10] She took up the appointment in June 2024.[10][2]

Personal life

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Marshall is married to Air Marshal Allan Marshall, and together they have two children.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Marshall, Air Vice-Marshal Suraya Antonia, (born 20 June 1973), Air Officer Commanding No 2 Group, since 2021". Who's Who 2023. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Assistant Chief of the Air Staff: Air Vice-Marshal Suraya Marshall CBE MA LLB RAF". raf.mod.uk. Royal Air Force. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Our ambassadors". rafa.org.uk. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  4. ^ "No. 53940". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 January 1995. p. 1371.
  5. ^ a b c d "RAF appoints first woman to command an 'Operational' Air Group". Royal Air Force. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Senior Appointments: 20 February 2019". Royal Air Force. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Senior Appointments: 12 August 2021". Royal Air Force. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  8. ^ "RAF reflects on Black History Month and supporting events". Royal Air Force. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  9. ^ "No. 63714". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 June 2022. p. B8.
  10. ^ a b "Senior Appointments: 31 May 2024". Royal Air Force. 5 June 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  11. ^ "No 2 Group: Air Officer Commanding". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
Military offices
Preceded by Commandant of the Royal Air Force College Cranwell
2019–2021 		Succeeded by
Andrew Dickens
Preceded by Air Officer Commanding No. 2 Group RAF
2021–2024 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Assistant Chief of the Air Staff
2024–present 		Incumbent
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