Michael Donaldson (RAF officer)
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Air Vice Marshal Michael Phillips Donaldson, MBE (born 22 July 1943) is a former Royal Air Force (RAF) officer who became the 22nd Commandant Royal Observer Corps from 1992 to 1993.
Michael Donaldson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 22 July 1943 |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Branch | Royal Air Force |
Service years | 1965–96 |
Rank | Air vice-marshal |
| Commands | RAF Staff College, Bracknell Royal Observer Corps RAF Wattisham No. 23 Squadron No. 19 Squadron |
| Awards | Member of the Order of the British Empire |
| Other work | Principal of Yorkshire Coast College (1996–03) |
RAF career
Educated at Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School, Donaldson joined the Royal Air Force in 1965.[1] He became Officer Commanding No. 19 Squadron in 1983, Officer Commanding No. 23 Squadron in 1985 and Deputy Personal Staff Officer to the Chief the Defence Staff in 1986.[1] Promoted to group captain, he went on to be Station Commander at RAF Wattisham in 1987 and following promotion to air commodore on 1 April 1992, he became Senior Air Staff Officer at No. 11 Group. He simultaneously held the appointment of Commandant Royal Observer Corps (ROC) at a time when the majority of the ROC had been stood down, leaving a small number of Nuclear Reporting Cell observers serving at various Armed Forces HQs all over the UK.[2] Promoted to air vice marshal, he served as Commandant of the RAF Staff College, Bracknell from 1993 until leaving the RAF in 1996.[3]
In retirement Donaldson became Principal of Yorkshire Coast College, where he remained until retirement in 2003.[1]