Ian Gale

Gale was educated at Sir Thomas Picton School, a comprehensive school in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales. He joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) after finishing school. He studied for a Master of Arts degree in defence studies and international relations at King's College London, graduating in 2006. He studied for a Master of Business Administration with the Open University, graduating in 2012.{{cite web |title=Gale, Air Vice-Marshal Ian David, Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Ministry of Defence, since 2019 |url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U292636 |website=Who's Who 2021 |language=en |date=1 December 2020}}

Gale joined the RAF in 1989. After attending the Royal Air Force College Cranwell, he was commissioned as an acting pilot officer on 26 September 1989.{{London Gazette|issue=52045|page=1974|date=12 February 1990}} He served as a fast jet pilot and weapons instructor from 1989 to 2005 and, in the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours, was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire.{{London Gazette |issue=57315 |page=6 |supp=y |date=12 June 2004}}

Gale became officer commanding No. 31 Squadron in 2008,{{cite web|url=http://www.simplyplanes.co.uk/panavia_tornado.shtml|title=Panavia Tornado|publisher=Simply Planes|accessdate=15 March 2019}} and station commander at RAF Lossiemouth in 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.insidemoray.com/community-saved-raf-lossiemouth-for-thirty-years/|title=Community saved RAF Lossiemouth 'for thirty years'|publisher=Inside Moray|date=15 August 2013|accessdate=15 March 2019}} After operational service as Deputy Air Component Commander for Operation Ellamy,{{cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/evening-express-city-final/20120329/281857230502307|title=RAF boss loves job|date=29 March 2012|publisher=Evening Express|accessdate=15 March 2019}} he became Assistant Chief of Staff for command, control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance programmes in 2015.{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/globalmediapartners/docs/raf-air-power-2017/66|title=RAF Air Power 2017 |publisher=21st Century Partnerships|accessdate=15 March 2019}}

In April 2019, Gale was promoted to air vice-marshal and appointed Assistant Chief of the Air Staff. In April 2021, he was promoted to air marshal and appointed Director-General of Joint Force Development, Strategic Command. He retired from the Air Force on 24 April 2024.{{London Gazette |issue=64406 |date=28 May 2024 |page=10215 |supp=y }} Gale was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2024 New Year Honours.{{London Gazette |issue=64269 |date=30 December 2023 |page=N2 |supp= y }}

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{{s-ttl|title=Station Commander RAF Lossiemouth|years=2011–2013}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Assistant Chief of the Air Staff|years=2019–2021}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Director-General of Joint Force Development, Strategic Command|years=2021–2024}}

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Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Living people

Category:Alumni of the Open University

Category:Alumni of King's College London

Category:Companions of the Order of the Bath

Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire

Category:Royal Air Force air marshals

Category:20th-century Royal Air Force personnel

Category:21st-century Royal Air Force personnel

Category:Royal Air Force personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)