Richard Garwood

Sir Richard Frank Garwood
Air Marshal Sir Richard Garwood
Born	Heacham, West Norfolk
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1979 –
Rank	Air Marshal
Commands held	No. 22 (Training) Group (2007–09) Air Component Operation Telic (2003) British Forces Operation Ramson (2001–02) RAF Marham (2000–02) No. II (AC) Squadron (1996–98)
Battles/wars	Operation Granby Operation Ramson Operation Telic
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Flying Cross

Air Marshal Sir Richard Frank Garwood, KBE, CB, DFC is a senior Royal Air Force officer, currently serving as Director-General of the Defence Safety Authority.

He was appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief (Operations) at RAF Air Command in April 2010, initially on an acting basis – having served for less than a year as Chief of Staff (Operations) – following the reassignment of Air Marshal Tim Anderson as Director General of the new Military Aviation Authority, and pending the appointment of Air Marshal Andrew Pulford. However, following the sudden death of the then Commander-in-Chief Air Chief Marshal Sir Christopher Moran, Pulford was in turn reassigned and Garwood promoted to air marshal and confirmed in post.

Garwood was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions in the Gulf War, and appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 2010 Birthday Honours. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2017 New Year Honours.

Garwood graduated from King's College London with a Master of Arts in Defence Studies. He was commissioned in 1979, being regraded on completion of Initial Officer Training and promoted to flying officer during his flying training, on completion of which he was posted to No. 41(F) Squadron at RAF Coltishall to fly the Jaguar aircraft in the Ground Attack / Reconnaissance role. In 1985 Garwood was promoted to flight lieutenant and moved to the Tactical Weapons Unit at RAF Brawdy to instruct students on the Hawk aircraft, becoming a Qualified Weapons Instructor.