Ups and outs ; Promotions, retirements in HM Forces June 2012

The following promotions, postings and retirements have been announced during the month (one star and biographical notes on the second page) :

Air Vice Marshal S J Bollom CB to be promoted Air Marshal to succeed Air Marshal Sir Kevin Leeson KCB, CBE as Chief of Defence Materiel (Air) and Air Member for Materiel on the Air Force Board wef October 2012

Air Marshal Sir Kevin Leeson KCB, CBE, Chief of Materiel (Air) is to retire from the RAF

Air Vice Marshal C W Ness CB to retire from the RAF

Maj General Gordon Messenger RM DSO* OBE to succeed Maj Gen D A Hook CBE as Director Force Reintegration HQ ISAF wef Oct 2012

Maj General D M Cullen OBE to be deputy Cammanding General III (US) Corps wef Jan 2013

Air Cdre M A Clark to be promoted to Air Vice Marshal and succeed AVM Ness as Director (Technical) in Military Aviation Authority wef 15 June 2012
Air Cdre G P Farnell OBE to be promoted Air Vice Marshal and succeed AVM Bollom as Director Combat Aircraft, DE&S on 1 August 2012

Cdre I M Jess to be promoted Rear Admiral and to be asst Chief of Naval Staff (Support) wef July 2012

Brig K D Abraham to be promoted Maj General and to be DG Army Transformation this month

Brig James Chiswell CBE MC to be promoted Maj General and to succeed Maj Gen J I Bashall CBE as  GOC 1st (UK) Armd Divn wef Oct 2012

Brig T R Urch CBE to be promoted Maj General and succeed Maj Gen D M Cullen OBE as Chief of Staff land Forces wef Oct 2012

Air Cdre N E Wharmby OBE to retire from the RAF

 Cdre R Stokes to succeed Cdre M A Beverstock as Head of Capability (DUW) and Director Strategic Weapons wef June 2012

Captain G T Little OBE to be promoted Cdre to succeed Cdre S R Dearsden ADC as Naval Base Commander (Devonport) wef July 2012

Gp Capt M Quigley to become Air Cdre and succeed Mr F Edwards as Head of Engineering, Weapons Optg Centre, DE&S on 6 June 2012 
Gp Capt T W Jones to become Air Cdre and succeed Air Cdre N E Wharmy OBE as Director Flying Training No22 (Training) Group wef 25 June 2012
Gp Capt P A Round to become Air Cdre and succeed Brig J Mullin as Capability Director, European Defence Agency on 2 July 2012

Biographical notes

Air Vice Marshal Simon John Bollom CB graduated from Southampton University in 1981 with an honours degree in mechanical engineering. Entered the RAF on a short service commission in the Engineering Branch. In Mar 89, he was promoted sqn ldr at BAE Warton to command the Eurofighter International Air Forces Field Team. In Jan 1992 he become the senior engineer on No 72 Sqn in Northern Ireland. 1994 tbecame support authority for the Adour engine, before being promoted to wg cdr in Oct 1994 to become the programme manager for the Pegasus and Adour engines. Served for a year in MoD on the Helicopter Operational Support Study Team, a precursor studies of Joint Helicopter Command. Following Joint Services Defence College, he returned to the Eurofighter project at Abbey Wood, then the RAF Odiham Chinook Force. In Dec 2001 as the Director of Equipment Capability was responsible for battlefield helicopters. Joined the Tornado IPT in Jun 2003 and on promotion to air commodore became the Team Leader in Mar 2005. In Jan 2008 became Director Combat Air in the rank of air vice-marshal. In 2011 made a Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.

Air Marshal Sir Kevin Leeson CBE was commissioned as a University Cadet in 1974, regraded to Pilot Officer in 1977 on graduation from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology with a first class degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering. Promoted to Flying Officer in 1978, and Flight Lieutenant in 1980. Worked on planning the support of the Eurofighter Typhoon electrical and armament systems. Promoted to Wing Commander in1990. Commanded the Engineering Wing at RAF Marham. In 1996 he moved to Headquarters Strike Command, promoted to Group Captain in 1997, to manage the supply and engineering activities for the whole Tornado fleet. After graduating from the 1999 course at the Royal College of Defence Studies, Leeson again returned to the MOD, now as Group Captain then Head of Air Resources and Plans. Promoted to Air Commodore 2001, Air Vice Marshal 2004, Assistant Chief of Defence Staff - Logistics Operations, 2004. Assistant Chief of Defence Staff - Strategy and Plans 2007, promoted to Air Marshal and appointed Chief of Materiel - Air at Defence Equipment and Support in May 2009 joining the Air Force Board as Air Member for Materiel and Chief Engineer (RAF).

Air Vice Marshal Charles W Ness CB held a number of senior appointments in the Royal Air Force spanning strategic planning, acquisition and air safety. The latter half of his Service career saw him developing and leading major change initiatives associated with organisation redesign and business transformation. Became a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society in 1998 and has since served continuously as a volunteer, supporting the Organisation's activity. In 2009 he became a Member of Council, was made a Trustee of the Society, and assumed Chairmanship of the Professional Standards Board. Companion of the Bath 2010.

Maj General Gordon Kenneth Messenger RM DSO Bar OBE. Born 1962. Appointed an acting lieutenant on a short career graduate commission 1983 transferring to a full career commission on 21 May 1986. Served in the former Yugoslavia in 2000 (Kosovo), for which he was appointed OBE. Promoted substantive colonel 2002. Awarded DSO for his leadership of 40 Commando in Iraq, including the initial assault on Al Faw peninsular, and an action against Iraqi armour at Abu Al Khasib.Joined the Joint Force Headquarters as Chief of Staff in 2004. Graduated from the UK Higher Command and Staff Course in 2007, promoted brigadier.2008 he was appointed an aide-de-camp to the Queen. Served as the British Commander of Task Force Helmand, with 3 Commando Brigade deployment to Helmand province, in 2008–2009. Awarded a Bar to his DSO 2009 first member of the Naval Service to receive the DSO and Bar for over 50 years.Promoted major-general 2009, appointed lead spokesman on British operations in Afghanistan. 2011 Chief of Staff (Operations) at Permanent Joint Headquarters, Northwood.

Maj General David Mark Cullen OBE was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1982. Served as commanding officer of the 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery during deployment to Basra in Iraq in 2004, for which he was awarded the OBE. Appointed Commander of 12th Mechanized Brigade in November 2007, in which role he saw service in Afganistan,.Director of Army Staff in December 2009 and Chief of Staff for Land Forces in October 2011.

Air Cdre Martin A Clark joined the RAF in 1979. His early tours were on Victor tanker, Nimrod maritime patrol and Tornado strike/attack aircraft, before serving at Headquarters Strike Command (HQ STC) as the staff officer to the 2-star responsible for all engineering and supply activity within the Command.
Posted to the Support Management Group at RAF Wyton, promoted to wing commander and the Engineering Authority for the aircraft's avionic and electrical systems. Commanded Engineering and Supply Wing at RAF Kinloss, 1998; obtained a Masters degree in business administration. Served in the personal staff of the first Chief of Defence Logistics in Bath, responsible for managing the Defence Logistics Organisation Change Programme and, subsequently, the Defence Logistics Transformation Programme. Moved to the Defence Procurement Agency in 2006, promoted to air commodore in August 2007, appointed Head Air Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance in the Air Support Operating Centre within Defence Equipment & Support. Joined the Military Aviation Authority (MAA) in June 2011 with responsibility for the technical certification of new aircraft and regulations across the Air domain.

Air Cdre Graham P Farnell OBE Joint Combat Aircraft Integrated Project Team Leaderl 2009.

Cdre I M Jess. Promoted Captain to Commodore, 2005. Former Naval Base Commander, Devonport.

Brig K D Abraham Late Royal Regiment of Artillery, currently Director Force Development, Army Headquarters

Brig James Chiswell CBE MC. Born 1964. Educated at Allhallows College and King's College London (MA, Defence Studies). Commissioned into the Parachute Regiment 1983. Took part on Operation Barras in Sierra Leone in September 2000, awarded the Military Cross. Became Commanding officer of 2nd Bn Parachute Regiment in 2004 and led his battalion in Iraq. Assistant Chief of Staff with responsibility for current operations Permanent Joint Headquarters, Northwood. Liaison Officer to the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington D. C. in 2008, and Commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade in December 2008 seeing service as Commander Task Force Helmand when the brigade was deployed to Afghanistan.
Brig T R Urch CBE Late Corps of Royal Engineers), formerly Assistant Chief of Staff J3 Operations, Permanent Joint Headquarters. President of the Army Squash Racket Committee.
Air Cdre N E Wharmby OBE8 [misspelled on DV) promoted squadron leader to wing commander 1999, group captain 2005. Former station commander at RAF Cranwell.
Cdre R Stokes studied at RNEC 1982-85, Submarine Service Business Planner 1992-95, Weapon Engineer Officer - HMS Torbay 1995-98, Naval Resources & Planning - Logistics & Sustainability at MoD 2001-03, Engineer Officer Career Manager 2003-05, Deputy Director, MOD Equipment Plan 2005-08, Team Leader - Naval Personnel (Engineering) 2008-10, RCDS Member 2010 - 11, Programme Director - Defence Reform Implementation 2011-present.

Captain Graeme T Little OBE, joined RN as a Marine Engineer Officer in 1984. Appointed 1990 to HMS Birmingham as Deputy Marine Engineer Officer. Joined DGFS(ES) as the lead for Electrical Propulsion Systems in 1994. In 1997 joined HMS Sutherland in build as the first Marine Engineer Officer, staying with the Ship until the end of its first Operational Deployment. Selected for promotion to Commander in 1999, joined the Warship Support Agency as Head of Electrical Systems. 2002 appointed to the Equipment Capability Customer and was EA to the Chief Naval Engineer Officer. Joined HMS Illustrious as the Commander Marine Engineering 2005. OBE 2005 New Years Honours.Equipment Team Leader in the DLO on promotion to Captain in 2006, then Assistant Director to the Chief of Materiel Fleet in the newly formed DE&S. From 2008-11 he continued in DE&S as the Capital Ships Team Leader. Team Leader of DE&S Capital Ships In Service Support Team 2011. An Alumni of the 2011/12 Royal College of Defence Studies course.

Gp Capt Terry W Jones Graduated from RAF Valley 1986. Piloted Tornado, instructor on the Hawk. Commanding Officer RAF Linton-on-Ouse. Over 3000 hours of fast jet experience, much over Iraq. Personnel Management Agency at RAF Innsworth, Defence Procurement Agency at Abbeywood and Equipment Capability at Main Building. Previously commanded no. 904 Expeditionary Air Wing at Kandahar Airbase. From 2010 RAF Station Commander at Linton-on-Ouse.

Gp Capt P A Round. Pilot and Qualified Flying Instructor, 1979-2012. Executive Board Member UK MFTS 2010 –12. AD Flying Training, MOD, 2010 – 2012, with responsibility for smooth integration of UK MFTS into UK military flying training, whilst maintaining the current flying training system.