Mike Wigston, a profile of the next Chief of the Air Staff

Later this month, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier will leave his post as Chief of the Air Staff, and it was announced late last year that he will be succeeded by Air Marshal Michael Wigston CBE, who currently serves as Deputy Commander Capability and Air Member for Personnel. So who is the man that will lead the Royal Air Force for the next few years?

Born in 1968 (making him 51 years old) Wigston was educated in Bangor, Wales, before attending Oriel College, Oxford, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree after studying Engineering. He later gained an MA degree in Defence Studies from King's College London.

Wigston with RAF personnel at Raf Honington

Wigston was commissioned into the RAF in 1986, and completed his training on the Tornado in 1992. And in the early 2000s he was made commander of No. 12 Squadron (which flew Tornados) after gaining the rank of squadron leader. And in 2008 he was made CO of No. 903 Expeditionary Air Wing, based in Afghanistan. He became Director of Air Operations at the ISAF HQ in Afghanistan in 2011, and in 2012 became Principal Staff Officer to the Chief of the Defence Staff.

Wigston was awarded a CBE (seen round his neck) in 2013 for his services in Afghanistan

After being promoted to Air Vice Marshal, he was appointed Commander British Forces Cyprus and Sovereign Base Area Administrator in 2015. Whilst in this role, he personally conducted the marriage of Sergeant Alastair Smith (2nd Battalion the Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment) and his partner Aaron Weston, the first Same-Sex marriage on the SBA. He became Assistant Chief of the Air Staff in 2017, and in 2018 (after gaining the rank of Air Marshal) was appointed to the joint posts of Deputy Commander Capability and Air Member for Personnel. Wigston handed over these posts last month, in preparation for his appointment as CAS within the next few weeks (when he will also be given the rank of Air Chief Marshal).

Mike Wigston (right) conducting the marriage of Sgt Alastair Smith (left) and Aaron Weston (centre)

His tenure as CAS will see the F-35s enter operations for the first time, as well as developments on the introduction of Wedgetails and Poseidon, and continued advances on new, unmanned technology. As ever, the next few years will be interesting for the Royal Air Force, and Wigston will have to promote the cause of the RAF within the MOD, and to whoever the next PM, Chancellor and Defence Secretary are.