Sir Mike Wigston

Sir Mike Wigston
Name	Sir Michael Wigston
Caption	Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Wigston
Birth date	1968
Birth place	Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Serviceyears	1986–2023
Rank	Air Chief Marshal
Battles	Operation Herrick, Iraq War, Kosovo War

Sir Mike Wigston Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Wigston (born 1968) is a senior retired officer of the Royal Air Force who served as Chief of the Air Staff from 2019 to 2023. His career included operational service in Iraq War and Operation Herrick, senior command appointments within RAF Bomber Command and RAF Air Command, and roles involving NATO engagements and defence planning. Wigston's tenure as Chief of the Air Staff encompassed strategic modernization initiatives, personnel reform, and high-profile inquiries.

Early life and education

Wigston was born in Newcastle upon Tyne and educated at Royal Grammar School, Newcastle before attending King's College London, where he read for a degree linked to Defence Studies and Aeronautical Engineering disciplines at the University of London. He completed staff college at Defence Academy of the United Kingdom and undertook further professional development at the Royal College of Defence Studies and through courses connected with NATO Defence College accreditation. His early academic background connected him with training pathways used by officers who later served at RAF College Cranwell, Joint Forces Command, and within the Ministry of Defence.

RAF career

Commissioned into the Royal Air Force in 1986, Wigston trained on fast-jet platforms and served as a qualified pilot on types associated with Panavia Tornado, Eurofighter Typhoon, and training aircraft linked to No. 1 Flying Training School. His operational deployments included flying missions during the Kosovo War, Iraq War, and Operation Herrick in Afghanistan. He held staff appointments at Air Command and the Ministry of Defence, and command appointments such as station commander roles at bases connected to RAF Marham and squadrons that contributed to Carrier Strike and Air Policing tasks. Promoted through the ranks, he served as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff and later as Deputy Commander operations linked with NATO Allied Air Command responsibilities, liaising with structures like Joint Expeditionary Force and UK Strategic Command.

Chief of the Air Staff

Appointed as Chief of the Air Staff in 2019, Wigston oversaw modernization efforts including force structure changes tied to procurement programmes such as the F-35 Lightning II acquisition, recapitalisation initiatives affecting Airborne Early Warning platforms, and investment decisions connected to UK Carrier Strike Group capability. His tenure saw engagement with policymaking at the Cabinet Office and representation of the RAF in inter-service planning with Royal Navy and British Army chiefs, and in multinational forums including NATO defence ministers' meetings and bilateral talks with partners such as United States Department of Defense, French Armed Forces, and German Air Force. He championed personnel reforms addressing recruitment, retention, and welfare policies that intersected with institutions like the Civil Service and statutory bodies such as the Armed Forces Pay Review Body.

Controversies and inquiries

Wigston's period in senior leadership encompassed several contested issues and formal inquiries. His office dealt with internal investigations into service misconduct that prompted scrutiny involving the Information Commissioner's Office procedures for data handling and the Equality and Human Rights Commission for discrimination-related complaints. High-profile media reporting and parliamentary questions referenced inquiries overseen by committees such as the Defence Committee of the House of Commons, and intersected with legal processes within the Service Prosecuting Authority and independent review panels. Disputes over operational decisions and equipment availability led to debates in the House of Commons and engagement with watchdogs like the National Audit Office. Some controversies prompted adjustments to Ministry of Defence governance arrangements and policy revisions involving interdepartmental coordination with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Honours and awards

Wigston was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath and later Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, receiving knighthood in recognition of his service. He has been awarded operational and long service medals associated with deployments such as the Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan and campaign medals for Iraq operations. His career has included appointments to orders and honours historically bestowed on senior officers, and he has been listed in honours rounds that also recognised figures from institutions including the Royal Navy and British Army.

Personal life and charitable work

Wigston is married with family ties in Northumberland and maintains involvement with veteran-focused charities and service charities such as Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, SSAFA, and organisations supporting mental health for service personnel like Combat Stress. He has participated in outreach with educational institutions including University of Birmingham and Cranfield University guest lectures, and has engaged with heritage organisations connected to Royal Air Force Museum initiatives. He has supported youth and cadet organisations such as the Air Training Corps and has attended commemorative events alongside representatives from Royal British Legion.

Category:Royal Air Force air marshals Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath Category:1968 births Category:Living people