Christopher Coville

Christopher Coville
Christopher Coville
Born 1945 (age 65–66)
Liverpool, UK
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Air Force
Years of service 1964 – 2003
Rank Air Marshal
Commands held No. 3 (Fighter) Squadron
RAF Coningsby
Training Units
Personnel and Training Command
Awards Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath

Air Marshal Sir Christopher Charles Cotton Coville KCB BA FCIPD FRAeS RAF (born 1945) is a retired senior Royal Air Force commander.

RAF career

Born in Liverpool, Coville joined the Royal Air Force in 1964, at the height of the Cold War.[1] Early in his career he flew Lightnings and F4 Phantoms.[1] He was given command of No. 3 (Fighter) Squadron in 1983[2] and then became Group Captain Air at Headquarters No. 11 Group.[1] In 1986 he became Station Commander at RAF Coningsby[3] where he flew Tornado F3 and displayed Hurricanes and Spitfires on the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.[1] Promoted to Air Vice-Marshal, he became Air Officer Commanding Training Units in 1992, Assistant Chief of Defence Staff Operational Requirements (Air Systems) in 1994 and Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Allied Forces Central Europe in 1998.[1] In 2000 his NATO command was absorbed into the Regional Headquarters Allied Forces North Europe of which Coville became the Deputy Commander-in-Chief.[4] In March 2001 he became the Air Member for Personnel and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Personnel and Training Command.[1] He retired in 2003.[1]

Coville was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the New Years Honours List 2000.[1]

In retirement he was appointed Chairman of Westland Helicopters.[1]

Family

He is married to Irene and they have one son and two daughters.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Speakers Bridge Cruises
  2. ^ About the Author: "Coville, C. (2007) Target - The Queen, Canada: Trafford Publishing
  3. ^ Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - RAF Station Commanders - Lincolnshire and East Midlands
  4. ^ http://www.rafweb.org/NATO1.htm
Military offices
Preceded by
M B Elsam		 Station Commander RAF Coningsby
1986 – c. 1988		 Succeeded by
M K Widdowson
Preceded by
Sir Michael Stear		 Deputy Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Central Europe
1998 – 2000		 Command absorbed into Regional HQ Allied Forces North Europe
Preceded by
Sir John Day		 Commander-in-Chief Personnel and Training Command
Air Member for Personnel
2001–2003		 Succeeded by
Sir Joe French


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