Fin Monahan
{{Short description|Officer in the Royal Air Force}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
|name = Fin Monahan
|image = Vice Chief of Naval Operations Speaks at First Sea Lord's Sea Power Conference 2024 (8412553).jpg
|image_size =
|alt =
|caption = Monahan (left)
|nickname =
|birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|51|2019|09|01}}{{cite magazine|first=Fin|last=Monahan|date=Autumn 2019|title=It Happened to Me: I Thought I Might Never Fly Again|url=https://issuu.com/royalmarsden/docs/rm40_web|magazine=RM Magazine|page=17|access-date=21 January 2023|archive-date=28 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228223143/https://issuu.com/royalmarsden/docs/rm40_web|url-status=live}}
|birth_place = Liverpool, England
|death_date =
|death_place =
|placeofburial =
|allegiance = United Kingdom
|branch = Royal Air Force
|serviceyears = 1991–2025
|rank = Air Vice-Marshal
|servicenumber = 2634301T
|unit =
|commands = Development, Concepts and Doctrine Centre
Central Flying School
Cambridge University Air Squadron
|battles = War in Afghanistan
|awards = Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Flying Cross
|relations =
|laterwork =
}}
Air Vice-Marshal John Finbar Monahan {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|OBE|DFC}} (born {{circa}} 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. He undertook a degree in French and business studies at the University of Stirling.{{cite web |title=AIR COMMODORE FIN MONAHAN OBE DFC PhD RAF |url=https://cdissz.wp.mil.pl/u/Air_Commodore_Dr._Fin_Monahan.pdf |website=cdissz.wp.mil.pl |access-date=20 September 2024}} He also has master's degrees from both the University of Nottingham and the University of Madras. 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".{{cite thesis |last= Monahan |first= Fin |date= 2018 |title= The origins of the organisational culture of the Royal Air Force |degree= PhD |publisher= University of Birmingham |url= https://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/8306/ |accessdate= 20 September 2024}}
RAF career
Monahan joined the Royal Air Force in September 1991, after serving with the East Lowlands Universities Air Squadron.{{London Gazette |issue=52726 |date=26 November 1991 |page=18092 }} 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.{{cite web |title=Virtual Lecture: The Power of RAF Organisational Culture |url=https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/whats-going-on/events/virtual-lecture-the-power-of-raf-organisational-c/ |website=rafmuseum.org.uk |access-date=3 February 2021 |archive-date=17 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317160618/https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/whats-going-on/events/virtual-lecture-the-power-of-raf-organisational-c/ |url-status=live }}{{cite book |editor1-last=Kirke |editor1-first=Charles |title=Fratricide in battle : (Un)friendly fire |date=2012 |publisher=Continuum International |location=London, England |isbn=978-1-4411-6164-2 |page=xvii}} 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.{{cite web |title=Project ENTERTAIN |url=https://www.rafa.org.uk/operation-connect/operation-connect-entertainment/archive-weeks-13-16/ |website=rafa.ork.uk |access-date=3 February 2021 |archive-date=13 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213020808/https://www.rafa.org.uk/operation-connect/operation-connect-entertainment/archive-weeks-13-16/ |url-status=dead }} 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.{{cite news |title=Pilot's charity challenge |url=https://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/news/10186131.pilots-charity-challenge/ |access-date=3 February 2021 |work=Darlington and Stockton Times |date=25 January 2013}}
In 2007, Monahan took command of Cambridge University Air Squadron. He then spent a year training at the Defence Services Staff College in India and,{{cite news |title='The whole point of armed forces across the world is to avoid war' |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/the-whole-point-of-armed-forces-across-the-world-is-to-avoid-war-116101100175_1.html |access-date=3 February 2021 |work=Business Standard India |date=11 October 2016 |archive-date=7 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207231327/https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/the-whole-point-of-armed-forces-across-the-world-is-to-avoid-war-116101100175_1.html |url-status=live }} on returning to the UK, took up a post in charge of operations at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire.{{cite news |title=[p]ilot who beat cancer takes on new challengte[sic] |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/10059427.ilot-beat-cancer-takes-new-challengte/ |access-date=3 February 2021 |work=The Northern Echo |date=20 November 2012}} Monahan was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2014 New Year Honours.{{London Gazette |issue=60728 |date=31 December 2013 |page=N6 |supp=1}}{{cite news |title=New Year honours 2014: the full list |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/dec/30/new-year-honours-2014-the-full-list |access-date=3 February 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=30 December 2013 |archive-date=11 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111204730/http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/dec/30/new-year-honours-2014-the-full-list |url-status=live }}
Between 2016 and 2018, Monahan was the Commandant of the Central Flying School at RAF Cranwell.{{cite news |title=PHOTO GALLERY: Royal visit to review graduating officers at RAF Cranwell today (Thursday) |url=https://www.sleafordstandard.co.uk/news/defence/photo-gallery-royal-visit-review-graduating-officers-raf-cranwell-today-thursday-2141048 |access-date=3 February 2021 |work=The Seaford Standard |date=28 July 2016}} 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.{{cite web |title=Royal Air Force |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/senior-appointments/ |website=raf.mod.uk |access-date=3 February 2021 |archive-date=5 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705001210/https://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/senior-appointments.cfm |url-status=live }} He was promoted to air vice-marshal on 10 October 2022, on appointment as director of the centre.{{London Gazette|issue=63875|date=15 November 2022|page=21746|supp=y}}
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.{{cite web |title=New Chief Fire Officer appointed |url=https://www.southwales-fire.gov.uk/newsroom/news/new-chief-fire-officer-appointed/ |website=South Wales Fire and Rescue Service |access-date=20 September 2024}}{{cite web |title=South Wales fire service appoints RAF officer as new chief |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce98ze4j059o |website=BBC News |access-date=20 September 2024 |date=10 July 2024}} He took up the appointment on 12 November 2024,{{cite web |title=Air Vice-Marshal Fin Monahan OBE DFC PhD takes up position as new Chief Fire Officer of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service |url=https://www.southwales-fire.gov.uk/newsroom/news/air-vice-marshal-fin-monahan-obe-dfc-phd-takes-up-position-as-new-chief-fire-officer-of-south-wales-fire-and-rescue-service/ |website=South Wales Fire and Rescue Service |access-date=24 November 2024 |date=12 November 2024}}{{cite web |title=South Wales Fire and Rescue Service appoints Air Vice-Marshal Fin Monahan as Chief Fire Officer |url=https://internationalfireandsafetyjournal.com/south-wales-fire-and-rescue-service-appoints-air-vice-marshal-fin-monahan-as-chief-fire-officer/ |website=International Fire & Safety Journal |access-date=24 November 2024 |date=13 November 2024}} and formally retired from the RAF in February 2025.{{London Gazette|issue=64702|date=8 April 2025|page=7437|supp=y}} He will undertake the Wales Gold Command course, as well as firefighter training.
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.{{cite news |last1=O’Neill |first1=Sean |title=Red Arrows commander still flying high after speedy cancer scan saved him cancer |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/defence/article/red-arrows-commander-fin-monahan-is-still-flying-high-despite-a-decade-of-cancer-tczkcpjh3 |access-date=3 February 2021 |work=The Times |date=14 December 2018 |url-access=limited |archive-date=8 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208041229/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/red-arrows-commander-fin-monahan-is-still-flying-high-despite-a-decade-of-cancer-tczkcpjh3 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Myeloma – early diagnosis {{!}} The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust |url=https://www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/myeloma-early-diagnosis |website=www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk |access-date=3 February 2021 }}{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Monahan is married with three children. In 2021, he was made the patron of a myeloma cancer charity in Lancashire.{{cite news |last1=Foster |first1=Mark |title=Pilot who fought back from cancer |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/northyorkshire/10179942.raf-leeming-pilot-fought-back-cancer/ |access-date=3 February 2021 |work=The Northern Echo |date=23 January 2013 |archive-date=2 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240502100903/https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/northyorkshire/10179942.raf-leeming-pilot-fought-back-cancer/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Lopez |first1=Jamie |title=Fin named patron saint of Myeloma Group |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWGLNB&t=continent%3AEurope%21Europe&sort=YMD_date%3AD&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=fin%20monahan&docref=news/17FFF60FB8FEBA90 |access-date=3 February 2021 |work=infoweb.newsbank.com |date=14 January 2021 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=2 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240502101119/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/user/login?destination=document-view%3Fp%3DAWGLNB%26t%3Dcontinent%253AEurope%2521Europe%26sort%3DYMD_date%253AD%26fld-base-0%3Dalltext%26maxresults%3D20%26val-base-0%3Dfin%2520monahan%26docref%3Dnews/17FFF60FB8FEBA90 |url-status=live }}
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Monahan, Fin}}
Category:Royal Air Force air marshals
Category:Royal Air Force personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire
Category:People with multiple myeloma
Category:Defence Services Staff College alumni
Category:Alumni of the University of Stirling
Category:Alumni of the University of Nottingham