Michael Harwood (RAF officer)

Michael J Harwood
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Rank	Air Vice-Marshal
Commands held	British Defence Staff - US 83 EAG RAF Cottesmore 20 Sqn RAF
Battles/wars	Op TELIC
Awards	Commander of the Order of the British Empire Member of the Order of the British Empire Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air

Air Vice-Marshal Michael John Harwood CBE ADC (born 29 October 1958) is a senior serving Royal Air Force officer and is currently Defence Attaché and Head of the British Defence Staff - US in Washington, D.C..^[1] He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School and at King's College London (MA Defence Studies).

Harwood joined the RAF as a fast-jet pilot in 1978, initially serving as a Flying Instructor on Hawk and Harrier GR3/T4 aircraft.

Harwood has held numerous senior appointments and commands during his RAF service, including:

• Commanding Officer, 20 Squadron RAF (Harrier Operational Conversion Unit), RAF Wittering (Wg Cdr) - 1998 - 2000
• Commander British Forces (Gulf), Saudi Arabia (Gp Capt) - 2000
• Station Commander, RAF Cottesmore, (Gp Capt) - 2001
• Deployed Operating Base Commander, Kuwait (Op TELIC) (Gp Capt) - 2003
• Ministry of Defence Public Relations Directorate
• Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ(UK))
• RAF Strike Command, RAF High Wycombe
• Assistant Commandant (Air), Joint Services Command and Staff College
• Chief of the ISAF Detachment, CENTAF Combined Air Operations Centre, Al Udeid (Air Cdre) - Sep 07.^[2]
• Air Officer Commanding 83 Expeditionary Air Group, Al Udeid (Air Cdre) - 2008

Harwood was promoted Air Vice-Marshal and appointed Head of the British Defence Staff - US / Defence Attaché in November 2008.^[3]

References

1. ^ Defence Attaché (USA) biography retrieved 14 January 2009
2. ^ Royal Air Force Air Rank Appointments List 2/07 retrieved 21 February 2007
3. ^ Royal Air Force Air Rank Appointments List 1/08 retrieved 4 January 2008

Military offices
Preceded by Unknown	Officer Commanding 20 Squadron RAF 1998 – 2000	Succeeded by Unknown
Preceded by D Walker	Station Commander RAF Cottesmore 2001 – 2003	Succeeded by Unknown
Preceded by Unknown	Air Officer Commanding No 83 Expeditionary Air Group 2008 – 2008	Succeeded by A S Barmby
Preceded by P Gilchrist	Defence Attaché Head of British Defence Staff - US 2008 –	Incumbent

Persondata
Name	Harwood, Michael
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	29 October 1958
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death