1. Stephen Hillier was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for actions in the Gulf in 1999 and was awarded the United States Bronze Star Medal for service in the Iraq War.
17 Facts About Stephen Hillier
1. 2.
Stephen Hillier went on to be Air Officer Commanding No 2 Group, Director Information Superiority at the Ministry of Defence, Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff and finally Chief of the Air Staff from July 2016.
3.
Stephen Hillier was appointed chair of the Civil Aviation Authority in 2020.
4.
Stephen Hillier was educated at Kilmarnock Academy and as a youth earned a private pilot's licence through the Air Training Corps flying scholarship scheme.
5.
Stephen Hillier undertook a Master of Arts degree in defence studies at King's College, London, graduating in 1999.
6.
Stephen Hillier was commissioned as an acting pilot officer on 6 November 1980, and regraded to pilot officer on 6 November 1981.
7.
Stephen Hillier was promoted to flying officer on 6 November 1982.
8.
Stephen Hillier was a pilot, flying the Tornado, and served in the 1991 Gulf War.
9.
Stephen Hillier was promoted to squadron leader on 1 July 1991 and wing commander on 1 July 1996, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions commanding II Squadron in the Gulf during Operation Southern Watch on 29 October 1999.
10.
Stephen Hillier then served in the Iraq War, where he commanded the Tornado Detachment with aircraft supplied from No 2,12 and 617 Squadrons.
11.
Stephen Hillier was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2005 New Year Honours, just prior to his promotion to air commodore on 1 January 2005 of that year.
12.
Stephen Hillier served as Head of Theatre Airspace Capability in the Ministry of Defence prior to his promotion to air vice marshal and appointment as Air Officer Commanding No 2 Group in September 2008.
13.
Stephen Hillier managed the UK's Carrier Enabled Power Projection Programme, encompassing the aircraft carrier, F35B Lightning II and Merlin Helicopter programmes.
14.
Stephen Hillier became Air Aide-de-Camp to Queen Elizabeth II and succeeded Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford as Chief of the Air Staff on 12 July 2016.
15.
Stephen Hillier was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 2014 New Year Honours, and Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the 2020 Birthday Honours.
16.
Stephen Hillier has been a trustee of Veterans Aid since October 2019.
17.
Stephen Hillier took up the appointment on 1 August 2020.