Air Commodore Simon Owen Falla , CBE DSO Royal Air Force officer. He was Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff Joint Helicopter Command from December 2006 until his retirement in June 2010.[ 1]
Service history
1979 – Joined the Royal Air Force.
1980 – Selected for helicopter training.
1981 – Joined the newly formed Chinook force, with No. 18(B) Squadron at RAF Odiham .
1982 – Sailed with the Task Force during Operation Corporate , flying operational sorties over the Falklands Islands .
1983 – Joined No. 7 Squadron 's new Chinook Special Forces Flight, flying operationally in Lebanon .
1986 – Qualified as a helicopter instructor at RAF Shawbury . Service followed with the Chinook Operational Conversion Unit at RAF Odiham , gaining A2 instructional category and qualified as a helicopter tactics instructor.
1989 – Promoted to squadron leader , appointed deputy commander No. 7 Squadron.
1990 – Assumed command of Special Forces Flight.
1991 – Led Special Forces Flight during Operation Granby over Iraq. Made Companion of the Distinguished Service Order for his command of the 6-Chinook SF Flight.
1992 – Spent six months as officer commanding No. 78 Squadron RAF , RAF Mount Pleasant .
1993 – Appointed the helicopter tactics and trials officer at the RAF Air Warfare Centre .
1995 – Following numerous short tours and courses, promoted to wing commander .
1996 – Officer commanding No. 7 Squadron RAF (until 1998).
1999 – Appointed UK air/joint advisor to the United Arab Emirates Command and Staff College, Abu Dhabi .
2001 – Promoted to group captain .
2002 – Station commander RAF St Mawgan [ 2] RAF Search and Rescue Force (until 2003).
2003 – Deputy assistant chief of staff (plans), Joint Helicopter Command .
2006 – Promoted to air commodore on appointment as deputy commander and chief of staff, Joint Helicopter Command.[ 3]
Post RAF
Falla is currently the training director at Ascent Military Flying Training System.[ 4]
References
