Steve Shell

Steve Shell
Air Vice-Marshal Shell in 2019
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1988–present
RankAir Marshal
Service number8029793F
CommandsRAF Odiham
No. 27 Squadron RAF
Battles / warsGulf War
Iraq War
Operation Highbrow
War in Afghanistan
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service
Bronze Star Medal (United States)

Air Marshal Stephen Jeffrey Shell, CB, OBE is a senior Royal Air Force officer. He has served as director general of the Defence Safety Authority (DSA) since January 2022. He had served as director of the Military Aviation Authority from 2018 to 2021.

RAF career

Shell was commissioned in the General Duties Branch of the Royal Air Force on 5 May 1988 as an acting pilot officer.[1] He was regraded to pilot officer on 5 May 1989,[2] promoted to flying officer on 5 May 1990,[3] and to flight lieutenant on 5 November 1993.[4] He trained and served as a Chinook pilot.[5] In the half yearly promotions, he was promoted to squadron leader on 1 July 1998,[6] and to wing commander on 1 January 2003.[7] He was officer commanding No. 27 Squadron RAF from 2005 to 2007, during which the squadron was involved in evacuating British citizens from Lebanon and deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Herrick.[8] From 2009 to 2011, he was station commander of RAF Odiham and commanding officer of the UK Chinook Force.[9][5][10]

On 12 December 2018, Shell was appointed director of the Military Aviation Authority.[11] On 7 January 2022, he was appointed director general of the Defence Safety Authority (DSA) and promoted to air marshal.[9][12][13]

In 2006, Shell was awarded the Bronze Star Medal by the United States "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services during coalition operations in Iraq".[14] In July 2007, he was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Afghanistan during the period 1st October 2006 to 31st March 2007".[15] In the 2008 New Year Honours, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).[16] In 2018, he received the Royal Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with 1 Clasp (i.e. 15 years plus 10 years service).[17] In the 2021 New Year Honours, he was appointed an Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).[18]

References

  1. ^ "No. 51420". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 July 1988. p. 8452.
  2. ^ "No. 51754". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 June 1989. p. 6663.
  3. ^ "No. 52158". The London Gazette. 4 June 1990. p. 10108.
  4. ^ "No. 53498". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 November 1993. p. 19083.
  5. ^ a b Gregory, Chris (22 November 2009). "Pilot's 'privilege' to return to RAF Odiham". Basingstoke Gazette. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  6. ^ "No. 55187". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 July 1998. p. 7376.
  7. ^ "No. 56811". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 January 2003. pp. 129–130.
  8. ^ Rivett, Jen (30 September 2007). "RAF commander says farewell to squadron". Basingstoke Gazette. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Air Marshal Steve Shell CB OBE MA RAF". GOV.UK. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  10. ^ Moss, Simon (5 November 2011). "Cash injection to keep RAF base flying high". Basingstoke Gazette. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  11. ^ "Director Military Aviation Authority: Air Vice-Marshal Steve Shell OBE MA RAF". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 23 July 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  12. ^ "Senior Appointments". Royal Air Force. 19 November 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2023. Air Vice-Marshal S J Shell CB OBE to be promoted Air Marshal and to be Director General Defence Safety Authority with effect from 7 January 2022 in succession to Air Marshal S C Gray CB who is retiring from the Service.
  13. ^ "No. 63640". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 March 2022. p. 4776.
  14. ^ "No. 58183". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 December 2006. p. 17361.
  15. ^ "No. 58396". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 July 2007. pp. 10412–10413.
  16. ^ "No. 58557". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 2007. p. 6.
  17. ^ "No. 62445". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 October 2018. pp. 19124–19139.
  18. ^ "No. 63218". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2020. p. N2.
Military offices
Preceded by Director-General Defence Safety Authority
2022–present 		Incumbent