Outgoing CDS to receive peerage
The Queen has been graciously pleased to signify her intention of conferring a Peerage of the United Kingdom for Life upon Air Chief Marshal Sir Graham Eric (Jock) Stirrup, GCB, AFC.
The Queen has been graciously pleased to signify her intention of conferring a Peerage of the United Kingdom for Life upon Air Chief Marshal Sir Graham Eric (Jock) Stirrup, GCB, AFC on his retirement as Chief of the Defence Staff on Friday, 29 October 2010.
Prime Minister David Cameron said:
I am extremely pleased that Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup is to receive a Peerage. I applaud him for his excellent leadership throughout his time as CDS which has seen a particularly demanding tempo of activity including the withdrawal from Iraq and ongoing operations in Afghanistan. I also want to thank him for the considered advice and remarkable support he has provided to me as we worked together on critical issues, in particular the Strategic Defence and Security Review”.
Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox said of Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup’s elevation to the House of Lords:
This is appropriate recognition for the dedication he has shown in public life and his contribution to the Armed Forces.
Note for Editors
1) This recommendation for a non-party political life Peerage was made by the Prime Minister. The House of Lords Appointments Commission is responsible for recommending non-party political appointments to the House of Lords. However, the Prime Minister continues to nominate direct to The Queen a limited number of distinguished public servants on retirement. The number of such appointments will not exceed ten in any one Parliament. This is in line with the arrangements agreed between the House of Lords Appointments Commission and previous Prime Ministers.
2) Sir Jock was commissioned into the Royal Air Force in 1970. After a tour on loan with the Sultan of Oman’s Air Force, during the Dhofar War, he flew Jaguars in the Fighter Reconnaissance role, before taking up an exchange appointment on Phantoms in the United States. Subsequently, he commanded No II(AC) Jaguar Squadron at RAF Laarbruch before becoming Personal Staff Officer to the Chief of the Air Staff. He assumed command of Royal Air Force Marham in 1990, just in time for Operation GRANBY.
3) Following a tour as the Director of Air Force Plans and Programmes, he became Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group in April 1997 and was appointed Assistant Chief of the Air Staff in August 1998 before undertaking an appointment as the Deputy Commander-in-Chief Strike Command in 2000. He spent the last four months of this tour as the UK National Contingent Commander and Senior British Military Advisor to the US led Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan. Appointed KCB in January 2002, he took up the post of Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Equipment Capability) in March 2002. He became Chief of the Air Staff on 1 August 2003, and was appointed GCB in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2005. Sir Jock has occupied the role of Chief of the Defence Staff for over four and a half years since taking over in April 2006.
4) Air Chief Marshal Stirrup will be succeeded by General Sir David Richards on Friday, 29 October.