On 29 July 1983, the then Aircraftman Bray was commissioned into the Security Branch of the Royal Air Force as an acting pilot officer. He was given the service number 8024046L.[1] He was regraded to pilot officer on 29 January 1984.[2] He was promoted to flying officer on 29 January 1986,[3] and to flight lieutenant on 29 January 1990.[4] He served in the former Republic of Yugoslavia from April to November 1993,[5] for which he was awarded a Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service 'in recognition of [his] services".[5][6] As part of the half-yearly promotions, he was promoted to squadron leader on 1 January 1996,[7] and to wing commander on 1 January 2001.[8]
On 1 July 2007, he was promoted to group captain.[9] He was appointed station commander of RAF Honington in February 2009.[10] In 2011, as part of the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan, he served as an adviser in the Ministry of the Interior. He also acted as the lead planner of the Afghan National Police.[11] Appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2012 New Year Honours,[12] Bray was made Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment in January the same year.[13][14] In May 2013, he relinquished the appointment.[13]
On 16 October 2017, he was granted a commission in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force in the rank of air commodore.[15]