Sir Joseph Gilbert
| |
|---|---|
| Born | (1931-06-15) 15 June 1931 (age 93) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1952–89 |
| Rank | Air Chief Marshal |
| Commands held | No. 38 Group RAF Coltishall No. 92 Squadron |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire |
Air Chief Marshal Sir Joseph Alfred Gilbert, KCB, CBE (born 15 June 1931) is a former Royal Air Force officer who served as Deputy Commander of Strike Command from 1984 to 1986.
Educated at William Hulme's Grammar School[1] and the University of Leeds,[2] Gilbert joined the Royal Air Force under a National Service Commission in 1952.[3] Gilbert served in fighter squadrons until 1961 when he joined the Air Secretary's Department.[2] He attended RAF Staff College in 1964 and became Commanding OfficerofNo. 92 Squadron flying Lightnings from RAF Geilenkirchen in 1965.[2] He attended Joint Services Staff College in 1968.[2] He then joined the Defence Policy Staff, becoming Assistant Director of Defence Policy before he left.[2] In 1971 he became Station Commander at RAF Coltishall before attending the Royal College of Defence Studies in 1974.[2]
He was appointed Director of Forward Policy in January 1975,[4] Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Policy) in November 1975,[4] Air Officer Commanding No. 38 Group in 1977[5] and Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Policy) in 1980.[6] He then became Deputy Air Officer Commanding of Strike Command in 1984[7] and, having been promoted to air chief marshal,[8] he went on to be Deputy Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Northern Europe in 1986[9] before retiring in 1989.[10]
He was made an honorary graduate (LLD) of the University of Leeds in 1989.[11] He is also a life Vice-President of the Royal Air Forces Association and was Vice-Chairman of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission from 1993 to 1998 and the Prime Minister's trustee of the Imperial War Museum from 1997 to 2002.[2]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Deputy Commander-in-Chief Strike Command 1984–1986 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Deputy Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Central Europe 1986–1989 |
Succeeded by |
