Chris Luck

Chris Luck
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Air Force
Years of service 1984–present
Rank Air Commodore
Unit No. 230 Squadron RAF
Kuwait Air Force
Commands held No. 33 Squadron RAF
RAF Shawbury
Royal Air Force College Cranwell
Battles/wars Gulf War
The Troubles
Bosnian War
Awards Member of the Order of the British Empire

Air Commodore Christopher James "Chris" Luck MBE, ADC is a senior Royal Air Force officer and the current Commandant of Royal Air Force College Cranwell.[1][2]

Military career

On 11 October 1984, Luck was commissioned into the General Duties Branch, Royal Air Force, as an acting pilot officer.[3] He then undertook flying training on the Chipmunk and Jet Provost, before training on helicopters.[1] Upon completion of training, he was posted to No. 33 Squadron RAF, a Puma squadron based at RAF Odiham in Hampshire.[4] He was promoted to flying officer on 11 October 1986.[5] During his early career, he underwent deployments to Northern Ireland and Belize.[4]

He was promoted to flight lieutenant on 11 April 1990.[6] He was posted to Iraq as part of Operation Granby, the British operation during the 1991 Gulf War.[1] In 1992, he underwent training to become a qualified helicopter instructor at RAF Shawbury.[4] He was then posted to No. 230 Squadron RAF, based at RAF Aldergrove, Northern Ireland, with whom he served from 1992 to 1996.[1] In recognition of his "gallant and distinguished services in Northern Ireland", Luck was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in November 1996.[7]

He was deployed to Bosnia during the Bosnian War as part of the United Nations' force.[4][8]

As part of the half yearly promotions, he was promoted to squadron leader on 1 July 1996.[9] He then returned to RAF Odiham to become officer commanding of the Puma Operational Conversion Unit Flight, part of No. 27 (Reserve) Squadron.[1] In 1998, the end of this posting, saw the Pumas of No. 27 (Reserve) Squadron leave to join No. 33 Squadron RAF at RAF Benson.[4] In 1999, he was posted to RAF Strike Command as the Rotary desk officer; this post soon moved to the newly formed Joint Helicopter Command.[1] From August 2001 to 2003, he was attached to the Kuwait Air Force as an advisor and helicopter instructor, and was based at Ali Al Salem Air Base.[4]

As part of the half yearly promotions, he was promoted to wing commander on 1 January 2003.[10] He then attended the United States Air Force Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.[4] From July 2004 to June 2006, he remained at the college as a member of the directing staff as Deputy Director of Strategy and War.[11][4] In 2006, he attended the USAF School of Advanced Air and Space Studies; he was the first non-American to attend the school.[11] He graduated with a Master of Arts (MA) in strategic air power.[1]

In 2007, he returned to the United Kingdom and was appointed officer commanding No. 33 Squadron RAF based at RAF Benson.[1] This tour included a posting to Iraq as part of Operation Telic.[4] In June 2009, he was promoted to group captain and posted to the Permanent Joint Headquarters as Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff. He had specific responsibility for the Middle East region and global counter terrorism.[1] In November 2011, he became Commanding Officer of RAF Shawbury, home to the Defence Helicopter Flying School.[4] From September to November 2013, he studied at the Royal College of Defence Studies.[1] In December 2013, he was appointed Commandant of Royal Air Force College Cranwell.[1]

Luck has over 4900 military flying hours, of which 4300 hours have been on the Puma.[4] He was appointed Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to Queen Elizabeth II on 20 January 2010.[12] He relinquished the appointment on 9 September 2013,[13] but was appointed once more on 16 December the same year.[14]

Personal life

Luck is a keen horse rider; he is the President of the RAF Equitation Association.[15]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "New man in command". Sleaford Target. 25 December 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  2. ↑ "Welcome to RAF College Cranwell". RAF College Cranwell. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  3. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 49960. p. 17109. 17 December 1984. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "New station commander joins RAF Shawbury". News. ShropshireLive.com. 2 November 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 50709. p. 14513. 10 November 1986. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  6. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 52138. p. 9162. 15 May 1990. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  7. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 54574. p. 14849. 7 November 1996. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  8. ↑ "Chief is ready for take off". Shropshire Magazine. March 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  9. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 54453. p. 8919. 1 July 1996. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  10. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 56811. pp. 129–130. 7 January 2003. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  11. 1 2 "Chris Luck MBE ADC FRSA FCMI MCGI MA RAF". LinkedIn. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  12. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 60091. p. 5510. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  13. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 60622. p. 17863. 10 September 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  14. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 60759. p. 1162. 21 January 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  15. ↑ "RAFEA Committee". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
Military offices
Preceded by
David Stubbs		 Commandant of Royal Air Force College Cranwell
2013–present 		Incumbent
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