Malcolm Pledger

Pledger was educated at Heywood Grammar School (became part of a comprehensive in 1968 and is now Siddal Moor Sports College) and Newcastle University, where he read chemistry.^[1] Pledger then attended the RAF College, Cranwell where he completed his initial officer training.^[1] After basic flying training Pledger's flying career was on helicopters.^[1] He was appointed Officer Commanding No. 28 Squadron in 1978 and then commanded No. 240 Operational Conversion Unit before taking part in the Falklands War and commanding No. 28 Squadron.^[1] He became Station Commander of RAF Shawbury in 1990 before being appointed Air Officer Plans at Headquarters Strike Command in 1994.^[1] He went on to be Chief of Staff at Logistics Command in 1997, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at Logistics Command in April 1999^[1] and Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel) in September 1999.^[2] He was Chief of Defence Logistics from 2002 to 2005.^[3]

He married Betty Kershaw; they have two sons.^[1]