Sue flies to record high as woman Air Marshal
A ROYAL Air Force engineer became the top-ranking woman officer in Britain’s Armed Forces in what was hailed as a “historic moment” yesterday.
Sue Gray, 56, was “incredibly proud” to be promoted to the rank of Air Marshal, making her the UK’s first female three-star commander.
She is also the first member of the RAF to reach that level who did not come from an aircrew background as a pilot or a navigator. am part of a team, who succeed together. I have been privileged to lead highly successful teams through some challenging situations on operations and back at home.
“I am incredibly proud to be the most senior female military officer in the Armed Forces.”
Air Marshal Gray said she had felt “a little bit awestruck” when she discovered she was in line for the promotion, never having imagined she would rise to such a rank when she joined the RAF in August 1985.
She said: “I was grateful to be doing a job that was exciting, fascinating and rewarding from quite an early age, and I have just kept on enjoying it.”
The officer takes up her appointment next month and will be director general of the Defence Safety Authority.
She will be responsible for the defence regulation of health, safety and environmental protection and oversee accident investigations.
She has held a number of roles in the RAF, recently leading the department delivering engineering and logistics support for fighter training. In June 2016 she was appointed Air Officer Commanding Number 38 Group with responsibility for about 3,000 personnel.
She added: “As the RAF’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths champion, I have a lot of contact with the younger generation – who never fail to impress me and fill me with confidence for the future.”
Impress
Turning to her promotion to a three-star commander, she said: “I think it is going to be a challenge – not only being the first female at that rank, but this is the first time a non-pilot has taken on the role.
“So not only do they now have an engineer, but a woman to boot.” Asked if she would ever like to become overall head of the RAF and hold the four-star position of Chief of the Air Staff, she replied: “I suspect that might be a bridge too far for me.”
The current holder of that position, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, said: “Her promotion is proper recognition of her outstanding contribution to the RAF and Defence, as an engineer, as a leader and as a superb role model.”
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “This is an historic moment as we see the most senior female appointment in the British military.
“Air Marshal Gray’s career shows that with hard work, skill and determination, gender is no obstacle to achieving the top ranks.”
“I hope that young girls will look up to Air Marshal Gray and see that a career in the Armed Forces will offer them every opportunity to succeed.”