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Paul Luker

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Paul Luker
Born (1951-07-08) 8 July 1951 (age 73)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1968–2006
RankAir Vice-Marshal
CommandsJoint Helicopter Command
RAF Odiham
No. 7 Squadron
Battles / warsGulf War
Bosnian War
War in Afghanistan
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Air Force Cross
Bronze Star Medal (United States)

Air Vice-Marshal Paul Douglas Luker, CB, OBE, AFC, DL is a former Royal Air Force officer who served as Commander of Joint Helicopter Command from 2002 to 2005.

RAF career

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Luker joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1968, trained as a support helicopter pilot and served in Hong Kong, Northern Ireland, the Persian Gulf, the Balkans and Belize.[1] He became Officer Commanding No. 7 Squadron and then Station Commander at RAF Odiham.[2] After attending the Royal College of Defence Studies, he went on to be Director of Overseas Military Activity at the Ministry of Defence in 1998[3] and then Commander of Joint Helicopter Command in 2002, and latterly served for seven months as Deputy Commanding General of the US-led coalition in Afghanistan before retiring in 2006.[1]

Other interests

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From 2006 to 2016 Luker served as Chief Executive of the Council of Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Associations,[4] Secretary General of the UK Reserve Forces Association and, for the final five years acted as Clerk to the RFCA External Scrutiny Team, drafting their annual report to Parliament.[5] He served as Chairman of Blind Veterans UK from 2017 to 2021,[6] and is a Deputy Lieutenant for Hampshire,[7] and Honorary President of the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wing of the Air Training Corps.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Biography: Air Vice-Marshal Paul Douglas Luker Archived 23 April 2013 at archive.today Blind Veterans
  2. ^ Senior Officer becomes HIOW Wing Honorary President
  3. ^ Tri-Service and Ministry of Defence Senior Posts
  4. ^ "New Chief for Council of RFCAs – Highland Reserve Forces & Cadets Association". Hrfca.co.uk. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  5. ^ "External Scrutiny Team" (PDF). Council of Reserve Forces and Cadets Associations. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  6. ^ "Patron and governing body – Blind Veterans UK". Blindveterans.org.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  7. ^ "Vice-Lord-Lieutenant and Deputy Lieutenants". .hants.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
Military offices
Preceded by Commander, Joint Helicopter Command
2002–2005
Succeeded by