Glenn Torpy Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Lester Torpy , GCB , CBE , DSO ( born 27 July 1953 ) is a retired senior Royal Air Force commander . He was a fast jet pilot in the late 1970s and 1980s , saw active service during the Gulf War and then went on to higher command . He was the air component commander on Operation Telic ( British operations in Iraq ) and served as chief of the air staff , the professional head of the RAF , from 2006 to 2009 . In that role Torpy hosted the RAF ' s biggest air display in two decades , and argued for consolidation of all British air power in the hands of the RAF . Early life . The son of Gordon Torpy and Susan Torpy ( née Lindsey ) , Torpy obtained a BSc degree in aeronautical engineering from Imperial College London . Military career . Torpy joined the Royal Air Force as a pilot officer on 8 September 1974 , and spent his early career , after he left the RAF College Cranwell , undertaking flying duties in Jaguar aircraft before qualifying as a weapons instructor on Hawk aircraft . He was promoted to flying officer on 8 March 1975 , with seniority backdated to 8 June 1973 , flight lieutenant on 8 December 1975 , and squadron leader on 1 July 1983 . His early commands included a tour as a squadron leader in Tornado aircraft before being appointed Officer Commanding No . 13 Squadron in 1989 . Having been promoted to wing commander on 1 July 1989 , Torpy saw active service during the Gulf War with No . 13 Squadron and was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Order ( DSO ) . He was made personal staff officer to the air officer commanding RAF Strike Command in 1992 . Promoted to group captain on 1 July 1993 , Torpy was appointed station commander at RAF Bruggen , Germany , in 1995 . After promotion to air commodore on 1 January 1997 , he attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in 1997 . He was appointed assistant chief of staff ( operations ) at Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood in 1998 and director of air operations at the Ministry of Defence in 1999 . Torpy was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire ( CBE ) in the 2000 New Year Honours and became assistant chief of defence staff ( operations ) at the Ministry of Defence in 2000 . From 2001 to 2003 Torpy was air officer commanding Number One Group , and also served as the air component commander for Operation Telic ( British operations in Iraq ) . He was awarded the Legion of Merit ( Degree of Officer ) from the United States in " recognition of gallant and distinguished services during coalition operations in Iraq " in 2003 . He was promoted to air vice - marshal on 1 January 2001 , and to air marshal on 18 July 2003 . From 2003 to 2004 Torpy was deputy commander - in - chief at RAF Strike Command . On 26 July 2004 , he was appointed chief of joint operations at the Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood . He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath ( KCB ) in the 2005 New Year Honours . With promotion to air chief marshal on 13 April 2006 , Torpy became chief of the air staff and an air aide - de - camp to Her Majesty the Queen on 13 April 2006 . He was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath ( GCB ) in the 2008 Birthday Honours . In July , 2008 , Torpy hosted the RAF ' s biggest air display in two decades , as a 35 - mile long procession of aircraft flew past the queen to commemorate the service ' s 90th anniversary . Controversially , in June , 2009 , he argued for consolidation of all British air power in the hands of the RAF , effectively questioning the future of the Royal Navy ' s jet aircraft . Torpy retired from the RAF in July , 2009 , and became senior military advisor to BAE Systems . He is also a trustee of the RAF Museum and a governor of Haberdashers ' Aske ' s Boys ' School . Personal life . Torpy married Christine Jackson in 1977 . His interests include golf , hill walking , military history and cabinet making .