Fin Monahan

Fin Monahan
Born1967 or 1968 (age 56–57)[1]
Liverpool, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1991–2024
RankAir Vice-Marshal
Service number2634301T
CommandsDevelopment, Concepts and Doctrine Centre
Central Flying School
Cambridge University Air Squadron
Battles / warsWar in Afghanistan
AwardsOfficer of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Flying Cross

Air Vice-Marshal John Finbar Monahan OBE, DFC (born c. 1968), known as Fin Monahan, is a British public servant and former senior Royal Air Force officer. After training as a pilot, serving in active squadrons and exchange postings, Monahan was the commandant of the Central Flying School at RAF Cranwell, with the Red Arrows coming under his command. Monahan has trained with several non-UK militaries, and serves as the director of the Air Command Operating Model Programme. Since November 2024, he has been chief fire officer of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

Early life and education

Monahan was born in Liverpool, England.[2] He undertook a degree in French and business studies at the University of Stirling.[3] He also has master's degrees from both the University of Nottingham and the University of Madras.[2] In 2018, he was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree by the University of Birmingham for a doctoral thesis titled "The origins of the organisational culture of the Royal Air Force".[4]

RAF career

Monahan joined the Royal Air Force in September 1991, after serving with the East Lowlands Universities Air Squadron.[5] On graduation from pilot training, he was posted to No. 4 Squadron flying the Harrier jump jet at RAF Laarbruch in Germany, during which he flew missions over Bosnia and Kosovo.[6][7] After Germany, he was posted to RAF Valley in North Wales, and then served in an exchange role with the Royal New Zealand Air Force, flying Skyhawk aircraft from RNZAF Base Ohakea.[7][8] Whilst serving as a pilot with No. 1 Squadron in Afghanistan, Monahan was called upon to run a mission at very short notice in support of Australian special forces. He went on the mission alone and was later awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross.[9]

In 2007, Monahan took command of Cambridge University Air Squadron.[7] He then spent a year training at the Defence Services Staff College in India and,[10] on returning to the UK, took up a post in charge of operations at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire.[11] Monahan was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2014 New Year Honours.[12][13]

Between 2016 and 2018, Monahan was the Commandant of the Central Flying School at RAF Cranwell.[14] Monahan was promoted to air commodore in December 2019 as "Head Doctrine (Air, Space and Cyber) in the Development, Concepts and Doctrine Centre" at the Defence Academy at Shrivenham.[15] He was promoted to air vice-marshal on 10 October 2022, on appointment as director of the centre.[16]

Later career

In July 2024, it was announced that Monahan would be leaving the RAF having been appointed the next chief fire officer of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.[2][17] He took up the appointment on 12 November 2024.[18][19] He will undertake the Wales Gold Command course, as well as firefighter training.[18]

Personal life

Monahan was diagnosed with myeloma in 2009 and underwent bone marrow transplants at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London. The diagnosis was first confirmed when he was undergoing training at the staff college in India. He was diagnosed again in 2015 and was successfully treated, allowing him to return to duty, whereupon he became the commandant of the Central Flying School.[20][21]

Monahan is married with three children. In 2021, he was made the patron of a myeloma cancer charity in Lancashire.[12][20][22][23]

References

  1. ^ Monahan, Fin (Autumn 2019). "It Happened to Me: I Thought I Might Never Fly Again". RM Magazine. p. 17. Archived from the original on 28 February 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "New Chief Fire Officer appointed". South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  3. ^ "AIR COMMODORE FIN MONAHAN OBE DFC PhD RAF" (PDF). cdissz.wp.mil.pl. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  4. ^ Monahan, Fin (2018). The origins of the organisational culture of the Royal Air Force (PhD thesis). University of Birmingham. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  5. ^ "No. 52726". The London Gazette. 26 November 1991. p. 18092.
  6. ^ "Virtual Lecture: The Power of RAF Organisational Culture". rafmuseum.org.uk. Archived from the original on 17 March 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  7. ^ a b c Kirke, Charles, ed. (2012). Fratricide in battle : (Un)friendly fire. London, England: Continuum International. p. xvii. ISBN 978-1-4411-6164-2.
  8. ^ "Project ENTERTAIN". rafa.ork.uk. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  9. ^ "Pilot's charity challenge". Darlington and Stockton Times. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  10. ^ "'The whole point of armed forces across the world is to avoid war'". Business Standard India. 11 October 2016. Archived from the original on 7 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  11. ^ "[p]ilot who beat cancer takes on new challengte[sic]". The Northern Echo. 20 November 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  12. ^ a b "No. 60728". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 31 December 2013. p. N6.
  13. ^ "New Year honours 2014: the full list". The Guardian. 30 December 2013. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  14. ^ "PHOTO GALLERY: Royal visit to review graduating officers at RAF Cranwell today (Thursday)". The Seaford Standard. 28 July 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  15. ^ "Royal Air Force". raf.mod.uk. Archived from the original on 5 July 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  16. ^ "No. 63875". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 November 2022. p. 21746.
  17. ^ "South Wales fire service appoints RAF officer as new chief". BBC News. 10 July 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  18. ^ a b "Air Vice-Marshal Fin Monahan OBE DFC PhD takes up position as new Chief Fire Officer of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service". South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. 12 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  19. ^ "South Wales Fire and Rescue Service appoints Air Vice-Marshal Fin Monahan as Chief Fire Officer". International Fire & Safety Journal. 13 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  20. ^ a b O’Neill, Sean (14 December 2018). "Red Arrows commander still flying high after speedy cancer scan saved him cancer". The Times. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  21. ^ "Myeloma – early diagnosis | The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust". www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2021.[permanent dead link‍]
  22. ^ Foster, Mark (23 January 2013). "Pilot who fought back from cancer". The Northern Echo. Archived from the original on 2 May 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  23. ^ Lopez, Jamie (14 January 2021). "Fin named patron saint of Myeloma Group". infoweb.newsbank.com. Archived from the original on 2 May 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2021.