Michael Wigston

Wigston was born on 25 February 1968.'Wigston, Air Vice-Marshal Michael', Who's Who 2016, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2016 He was educated at Friars School, a comprehensive school in Bangor, Wales.{{cite web |title=Wigston, Air Marshal Michael |url=https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-282626 |website=Who's Who 2019 |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=20 May 2019 |date=1 December 2018|doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U282626 }} He studied engineering science at Oriel College, Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1992: as per tradition, his BA was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Oxon) degree.{{cite web |title=New military chiefs appointed |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-military-chiefs-appointed |website=GOV.UK |publisher=Ministry of Defence |access-date=20 May 2019 |language=en |date=3 December 2018}} He later attended King's College London, graduating with a Master of Arts (MA) degree in defence studies in 2004.

Wigston was commissioned into the Royal Air Force on 23 October 1986 on a university cadetship, with the rank of acting pilot officer.{{cite web|url=http://in-cyprus.com/new-bases-administrator/|title=New Bases Administrator|publisher=In Cyprus|date=24 January 2015|access-date=21 June 2015}}{{London Gazette|issue=50806|supp=y|page=770|date=19 January 1987}}{{cite web |title=Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston CBE ADC |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/mike-wigston |website=GOV.UK |access-date=19 October 2020 |language=en}} He was promoted to pilot officer on 15 July 1989,{{London Gazette|issue=51903|supp=y|page=11889|date=16 October 1989}} to flying officer on 15 January 1990,{{London Gazette|issue=52045|supp=y|page=1978|date=12 February 1990}} and to flight lieutenant on 15 January 1992.{{London Gazette|issue=52838|supp=y|page=2794|date=17 February 1992}} Flying the Tornado GR1 and GR4, he served successively with No. II(AC) Squadron, No. 14 Squadron, and No. 31 Squadron, before returning to No. II(AC).{{cite web |title=Wigston, Air Chief Marshal Michael, (born 25 Feb. 1968), Chief of the Air Staff, since 2019; Aide-de-Camp to the Queen, since 2019 |url=https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-282626 |website=Who's Who 2020 |publisher=Oxford University Press |language=en |doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U282626 |date=1 December 2019}}

He was promoted to squadron leader on 1 January 2000,{{London Gazette|issue=55722|supp=y|page=13841|date=4 January 2000}} and to wing commander on 1 July 2003.{{London Gazette|issue=56992|supp=y|page=8469|date=8 July 2003}} He was given command of No. 12 Squadron in 2005,{{cite web |title=Chief of the Air Staff: Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston KCB CBE ADC |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/senior-commanders/chief-of-the-air-staff/ |website=Royal Air Force |access-date=19 October 2020 |language=en-gb}} and served as commander of No. 903 Expeditionary Air Wing during a deployment to Iraq in 2007.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/mar/03/military.afghanistan|title=RAF man killed in Basra named|date=3 March 2008|work=The Guardian|access-date=20 April 2020}} After assignments at the Ministry of Defence, he went on to be director of air operations at the International Security Assistance Force Headquarters in Afghanistan in 2011. He was Tornado Force Commander in 2013, and then principal staff officer to the Chief of the Defence Staff from 2013 to 2015. Wigston was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in recognition of his services in Afghanistan on 22 March 2013.{{London Gazette|issue=60456|supp=y|page=5737|date=22 March 2013}}

Wigston was promoted to air vice-marshal on 20 January 2015,{{London Gazette|issue=61123|supp=y|page=1283|date=27 January 2015}} and appointed Commander British Forces Cyprus and Sovereign Base Areas Administrator (SBAA).{{cite web|url=http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Ministry%20of%20Defence%20Senior%20Posts.pdf |title=Ministry of Defence and Senior Tri-Service Appointments |access-date=7 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117033054/http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Ministry%20of%20Defence%20Senior%20Posts.pdf |archive-date=17 November 2015 }} As SBAA, he conducted a same-sex marriage ceremony in October 2016.{{cite news |title=Same-sex marriage first for Army sergeant on Cyprus |url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/national/14788957.same-sex-marriage-first-for-army-sergeant-on-cyprus/ |access-date=10 December 2018 |work=York Press |date=7 October 2016}} He became Assistant Chief of the Air Staff in March 2017{{cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/senior-appointments.cfm|title=Senior appointments|access-date=1 April 2017}} and, having been promoted to air marshal on 20 August 2018,{{London Gazette|issue=62406|supp=y|page=16199|date=11 September 2018}} he took up the post of Deputy Commander (Personnel) and Air Member for Personnel and Capability.{{cite web|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/senior-appointments/|date=15 March 2018|title=Senior appointments|access-date=3 December 2018}} Wigston handed over this appointment in May 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/senior-appointments/|date=20 February 2019|title=Senior appointments|access-date=23 May 2019}}

Wigston was promoted to air chief marshal and become Chief of the Air Staff, the professional head of the RAF, in succession to Sir Stephen Hillier on 26 July 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/12/03/generation-innovators-has-appointed-run-military-shake-up-top/|title=A 'generation of innovators' has been appointed to run the military in a shake-up of the top ranks of the Army, Navy and RAF |publisher=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=3 December 2018 |language=en |date=3 December 2018}}{{cite web |title=Senior Appointments – 17th January 2019 |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/senior-appointments/ |website=Royal Air Force |access-date=13 February 2019 |language=en-gb |date=17 January 2019}} Wigston was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2020 Birthday Honours.{{London Gazette|issue=63135|page=B3|date=10 October 2020|supp=y}} In late 2021, his term of office as Chief of the Air Staff was extended from the usual three years to four years.{{cite news|url=https://www.forces.net/raf/news/raf-chief-stay-role-until-2023|date=19 July 2022|title=RAF chief to stay in role until 2023|newspaper=Forces.net|access-date=23 August 2024}} Wigston was replaced by Sir Richard Knighton as professional head of the RAF on 2 June 2023.{{London Gazette|issue=64077|date=13 June 2023|page=11608|supp=y}}

Wigston became Chief of the Air Staff in July 2019 and made promoting diversity a high priority. Also the level of complaints by female and BAME military staff was a "serious concern".{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49259115|title=Complaints by female and BAME military staff a 'serious concern'|date=7 August 2019|publisher=BBC|access-date=7 April 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/story/military-chiefs-are-pack-of-middle-aged-white-men-says-report-11764062|title=Military chiefs are 'pack of middle-aged white men', says report|date=16 July 2019|newspaper=Sky News|access-date=7 April 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://wearethecity.com/want-mirror-society-defend-sarah-maskell-mbe-educating-raf/|title="We want to mirror the society we defend", says Sarah Maskell MBE on educating the RAF|publisher=We are the City|date=29 June 2018|access-date=7 April 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/529606/Defence_Statistics_FOI_2016_05748___Number_of_RAF_pilot_and_officers_gender_and_ethnic_background_BAME.pdf|title=Freedom of Information Response|page=3|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=7 April 2023}}

In April 2023, Sky News obtained a leaked transcript that Wigston said he would "test the limits of the law" to fast-track the promotion of women and ethnic minorities over white male employees as part of his personal campaign to broaden diversity.{{Cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/raf-boss-says-he-is-ready-to-test-the-limit-of-the-law-to-improve-diversity-in-the-force-leaked-transcript-reveals-12851128|title=RAF boss says he is ready to test 'the limit of the law' to improve diversity in the force, leaked transcript reveals|website=Sky News|access-date=7 April 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/04/06/raf-boss-test-limits-improve-diversity/|title=RAF boss was ready to ‘test limit of the law’ to improve diversity|date=6 April 2023|newspaper=The Telegraph|access-date=7 April 2023}}{{Cite web |title=RAF chief admits mistakes over 'discrimination' against white men |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/raf-chief-admits-mistakes-over-185300395.html |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-GB}} Wigston subsequently admitted to "mistakes and failings" after it was revealed that the former RAF head of recruitment had identified "around 160 cases" of discrimination against white men.{{Cite news |last=Reporters |first=Telegraph |date=2023-04-06 |title=RAF boss was ready to ‘test limit of the law’ to improve diversity |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/04/06/raf-boss-test-limits-improve-diversity/ |access-date=2023-04-07 |issn=0307-1235}}{{Cite news |last=McSherry |first=Gemma |date=2022-09-26 |title=MoD admits ‘mistakes were made’ in RAF diversity recruitment drive |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/sep/26/mod-mistakes-made-raf-diversity-recruitment-drive |access-date=2023-04-07 |issn=0261-3077}} Wigston apologised for these mistakes during his appearance before a House of Commons Committee in February 2023, but did not resign despite his policy's reported risks to national security and preparedness.{{Cite web |title=RAF's three simultaneous crises put Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston under pressure |url=https://news.sky.com/story/rafs-three-simultaneous-crises-put-air-chief-marshal-sir-mike-wigston-under-pressure-12680964 |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=Sky News |language=en}}

Since January 2024, Wigston has been a visiting professor at the Freeman Air and Space Institute, King's College London.{{cite web |last1=London |first1=King's College |title=Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston joins the Freeman Air and Space Institute |url=https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/air-chief-marshal-sir-mike-wigston-joins-the-freeman-air-and-space-institute |website=King's College London |access-date=28 August 2024 |language=en |date=24 January 2024}}

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Category:1968 births

Category:Alumni of King's College London

Category:Alumni of Oriel College, Oxford

Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath

Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire

Category:Living people

Category:People educated at Friars School, Bangor

Category:Royal Air Force air marshals

Category:Chiefs of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)

Category:Royal Air Force personnel of the Iraq War

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

Category:20th-century Royal Air Force personnel

Category:21st-century Royal Air Force personnel