Russell La Forte

In 1978, La Forte joined the RAF Regiment as a gunner.^[3] He served tours in West Germany and in Northern Ireland during The Troubles.^[2]

On 20 May 1982, the then senior aircraftman La Forte was commissioned into the Security Branch of the Royal Air Force as a pilot officer with seniority from 25 September 1980.^[4] He was promoted to flight lieutenant on 25 September 1986.^[5] As part of the half-yearly promotions, he was promoted to squadron leader on 1 July 1991.^[6] He deployed to Northern Iraq in 1993–94 as part of Operation Southern Watch^[2]

A wing commander from 1 January 1999,^[7] he was promoted to group captain on 1 January 2004 and was appointed Aide de Camp (ADC) to Queen Elizabeth II on 1 November 2007.^[8][9] From 2007 to 2008, he served as Station Commander of RAF Honington.^[10]

In 2009, La Forte attended the Higher Command and Staff Course at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. He then served as Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment from February 2010 to January 2012.^[11] In December 2011, he was appointed Assistant Chief of Staff Training, HQ No. 22 Group.^[3] In March 2013, he was appointed Commander British Forces South Atlantic Islands.^[12][13] He was succeeded in that role by Commodore Darren Bone in April 2015.^[14]

On 10 October 2015, La Forte transferred to the Royal Air Force Reserve in the rank of air commodore.^[15] In November 2015, he was appointed Director of RAF Sport and he is based at RAF Halton.^[16][17] He is also the President of the RAF Mountaineering Association.^[18]

In the 1995 New Year Honours, La Forte was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE),^[19] in recognition of his service in Northern Ireland the previous year.^[2] He was appointed Aide de Camp (ADC) to Queen Elizabeth II on 1 November 2007.^[9] He was promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2009 Queen's Birthday Honours.^[20][21]

Military offices
Preceded by Steven Abbott	Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment 2010–2012	Succeeded by Nick Bray