Clive Loader

Clive Robert Loader
Born	24 September 1953
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1973–2009
Rank	Air Chief Marshal
Commands held	No. 3 (Fighter) Squadron RAF Laarbruch Air Command
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Officer of the Order of the British Empire

Air Chief Marshal Sir Clive Robert Loader KCB OBE ADC FRAeS RAF (born 24 September 1953) is a retired Royal Air Force Officer and was the first Commander-in-Chief Air Command (CinC AIR).

RAF career

Educated at The Judd School Tonbridge and the University of Southampton, Loader joined the RAF in 1973.^[1] As a junior officer, he was posted to No 1 (F) Squadron at RAF Wittering and then IV (Army Cooperation) Squadron at RAF Gütersloh, Germany flying Harriers.^[1] Promoted to Squadron Leader in 1984 he became a Flight Commander in Germany.^[1] Promoted to Wing Commander in 1989, he went briefly to Rheindahlen, before being made Personal Staff Officer to the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RAF Strike Command.^[1]

He was given command of No. 3 (F) Squadron, at RAF Laarbruch in 1993^[2] in which role he took part in operations over Northern Iraq and Bosnia.^[2] Promoted to Group Captain in 1995, he attended the Higher Command and Staff College and then became Station Commander at RAF Laarbruch in 1996.^[2]

Promoted to Air Commodore in 1999 he became Air Commodore for the Harriers in 2000.^[1] Promoted again, this time to Air Vice-Marshal, he was appointed as Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Operations) in 2002 and Deputy Commander-in-Chief RAF Strike Command, in the rank of Air Marshal, in 2004.^[2] Promoted to Air Chief Marshal in 2007 he became the first Commander-in-Chief of Air Command on 1 April 2007.^[2] He retired in 2009.

Personal life

In 1976 he married Alison Leith.^[2] They have three sons who were all educated at Bedford School, of which he is a school governor.^[2] He is a keen military historian.^[2]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} RAF Biography
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} School Governors Bedford School

Military offices
Preceded by R M Thomas	Officer Commanding No 3(F) Squadron 1993 – 1995	Succeeded by A F P Dezonie
Preceded by M G F White	Station Commander RAF Laarbruch 1996 – 1999	Post disestablished - Station Closed May 1999
Preceded by Unknown	Air Commodore Harrier 2000 – 2001	Succeeded by Unknown
Preceded by Unknown	Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Operations) 2002 – 2004	Succeeded by Nick Houghton
Preceded by Sir Glenn Torpy	Deputy Commander-in-Chief RAF Strike Command 2004–2007	Succeeded by Command Disbanded
New title Command established by merging: Strike Command (C-in-C Joe French) Personnel and Training Command (C-in-C Barry Thornton)	Commander-in-Chief Air Command 2007–2009	Succeeded by Sir Chris Moran
Honorary titles
Preceded by Sir Joe French	Air Aide de Camp to Her Majesty The Queen 2007–2009	Succeeded by Sir Chris Moran

Persondata
Name	Loader, Clive
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	24 September 1953
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death