16 Facts About Brian Burridge

Air Chief Marshal Sir Brian Kevin Burridge, was born on 26 September 1949 and is a retired Royal Air Force officer.

Brian Burridge joined the Royal Air Force as a university cadet, being commissioned on 24 September 1967.

Brian Burridge was a pilot with an operational background in the maritime patrol role, serving on Nos 206 and 120 Squadrons.

Brian Burridge was promoted to the rank of Pilot Officer on 15 July 1970, to Flying Officer on 15 January 1971, Flight Lieutenant on 13 April 1972 to Squadron Leader on 1 July 1979 and to Wing Commander on 1 July 1985.

From 1992 Brian Burridge served in the Ministry of Defence, initially as Deputy Director of Force Doctrine and later becoming the Director of Force Development in the Central Staff before being made Principal Staff Officer to the Chief of the Defence Staff in 1994 in the rank of Air Commodore.

On 12 February 2002, Brian Burridge was promoted to air marshal and appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Strike Command.

Brian Burridge was in overall command of British forces under Operation Telic during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

In June 2003, Brian Burridge appeared before the Commons Defence Select Committee, telling MPs of delays in distributing equipment to troops in Iraq and of his role in vetoing potentially controversial air strikes while he was in command in Iraq.

Brian Burridge was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath "for gallant and distinguished services whilst on operations in Iraq during the period 19 March to 19 April 2003" on 31 October 2003.

Brian Burridge served as air Aide-de-Camp to Queen Elizabeth II from 31 July 2003 to 17 January 2006.

Brian Burridge retired on 18 January 2006 with the rank of Air Chief Marshal, though his commission in the reserve was extended to January 2015.

On 8 December 2009, Brian Burridge gave evidence to The Iraq Inquiry.

On 1 October 2018, Brian Burridge assumed operational command of the RAeS.

In 2005 Air Marshal Brian Burridge was president of the RAF Mountaineering Association and a trustee of the Windsor Leadership Trust.

Brian Burridge sat as chair of the Bentley Priory Battle of Britain Trust and was present at the facility's closing ceremony in 2007.

Brian Burridge attained a master's degree in business administration from the Open University.