| Elaine West | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Margaret Elaine Brindle |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1978 - present |
| Rank |
 Air Vice-Marshal |
| Service number | 8062626D |
| Awards | Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) |
Air Vice-Marshal Margaret Elaine West, CBE (born 1961 or 1962), née Brindle, is a British Royal Air Force officer. She is the most senior ranking female officer in the British Armed Forces, the first to hold a non-honorary Air Vice-Marshal or equivalent rank since the Second World War, and the first to achieve that rank in the regular forces.
Early life[]
West was born in 1961 or 1962.[1][2] She was brought up in the Lake District.[3]
Military career[]
West joined the Women's Royal Air Force as an aircraftwoman in 1978 at the age of 17.[4] She ended her service in the other ranks as a senior aircraftwoman. She was commissioned on 25 February 1982 in the rank of pilot officer with seniority from 8 December 1980.[1] She was promoted to flying officer on 8 December 1982.[5] On 21 March 1983, she transferred from the General Duties (Ground) Branch to the Administrative Branch of the RAF.[6] She was promoted to flight lieutenant on 8 December 1986.[7] On 26 October 1990, she transferred from a Short Service Commission to a Permanent Commission.[8] As a part of the half-yearly promotions, she was promoted to squadron leader on 1 January 1991,[9] and to wing commander on 1 January 1997.[10]
She was promoted to air commodore on 1 July 2008.[11] She served as Head of the Defence Estates' Operations Housing, thereby being in charge of the renovation of service accommodation.[12] With her promotion to air vice-marshal in August 2013, she is the highest ranking female in the British Armed Forces and the first to hold a two-star rank.[4][13] She has been appointed Director of Projects and Programme Delivery at the Defence Infrastructure Organisation.[14]
Personal life[]
West married an RAF Tornado navigator. He has since retired. Together they have one son.[2]
Honours and decorations[]
In the 2013 New Year Honours, West was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).[15]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "No. 48947". 8 April 1982. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/48947/page/
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Woman RAF officer joins top military brass". BBC News. 23 August 2013. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23799187. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
- ↑ Richard, Smith (23 August 2013). "Elaine West becomes highest ranked female in British armed forces ever". http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/elaine-west-becomes-highest-ranked-2213328. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Page 3 Profile: Elaine West, Air Vice-Marshal". 23 August 2013. http://www.independent.co.uk/i/page-3-profile-elaine-west-air-vicemarshal-8781125.html. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
- ↑ "No. 49237". 17 January 1983. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/49237/page/
- ↑ "No. 49336". 29 April 1983. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/49336/page/
- ↑ "No. 50799". 12 January 1987. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/50799/page/
- ↑ "No. 52427". 21 January 1991. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/52427/page/
- ↑ "No. 52414". 7 January 1991. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/52414/page/
- ↑ "No. 54642". 6 January 1997. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/54642/page/
- ↑ "No. 58752". 1 July 2008. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58752/page/
- ↑ "Halton RAF families get upgraded homes". GOV.UK. 17 June 2010. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/halton-raf-families-get-upgraded-homes. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
- ↑ "Officer flies up ranks to make history". 23 August 2013. http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/defence/article3850446.ece. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
- ↑ "Armed forces' first female two-star officer appointed". 22 August 2013. ITV. http://www.itv.com/news/update/2013-08-23/armed-forces-first-female-two-star-officer-appointed/. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
- ↑ "No. 60367". 29 December 2012. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/60367/page/
The original article can be found at Elaine West and the edit history here.