Simon Falla
{{BLP sources|date=November 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
|name= Simon Owen Falla
|image=
|image_size=
|alt=
|caption=
|nickname=
|birth_date= {{birth year and age|1955}}
|birth_place= Derbyshire, East Midlands
|death_date=
|death_place=
|placeofburial=
|allegiance= United Kingdom
|branch= Royal Air Force
|serviceyears= 1979–2010
|rank= Air Commodore
|servicenumber=
|unit=
|commands= RAF St Mawgan (2002–03)
RAF Search and Rescue Force (2002–03)
No. 7 Squadron (1996–99)
No. 78 Squadron (1992)
|battles= Falklands War
Gulf War
|awards= Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Order
|relations=
|laterwork=
}}
Air Commodore Simon Owen Falla, {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100|sep=,|CBE|DSO}} (born 1955) is a retired senior Royal Air Force officer. He was Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff Joint Helicopter Command from December 2006 until his retirement in June 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/AirSafetyandAviation/JHC/AirCommodoreSimonOwenFallaCbeDsoRaf.htm |title=Ministry of Defence | About Defence | What we do | Air Safety and Aviation | JHC | Air Commodore Simon Owen Falla CBE DSO RAF |accessdate=2009-02-08 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212082044/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/AirSafetyandAviation/JHC/AirCommodoreSimonOwenFallaCbeDsoRaf.htm |archivedate=12 February 2009 }}
Service history
{{Prose|section|date=August 2016}}
- 1979 – Joined the Royal Air Force.
- 1980 – Selected for helicopter training.
- 1981 – Joined the newly formed Chinook force, with No. 18(B) Squadron at RAF Odiham.
- 1982 – Sailed with the Task Force during Operation Corporate, flying operational sorties over the Falklands Islands.
- 1983 – Joined No. 7 Squadron's new Chinook Special Forces Flight, flying operationally in Lebanon.
- 1986 – Qualified as a helicopter instructor at RAF Shawbury. Service followed with the Chinook Operational Conversion Unit at RAF Odiham, gaining A2 instructional category and qualified as a helicopter tactics instructor.
- 1989 – Promoted to squadron leader, appointed deputy commander No. 7 Squadron.
- 1990 – Assumed command of Special Forces Flight.
- 1991 – Led Special Forces Flight during Operation Granby over Iraq. Made Companion of the Distinguished Service Order for his command of the 6-Chinook SF Flight.
- 1992 – Spent six months as officer commanding No. 78 Squadron RAF, RAF Mount Pleasant.
- 1993 – Appointed the helicopter tactics and trials officer at the RAF Air Warfare Centre.
- 1995 – Following numerous short tours and courses, promoted to wing commander.
- 1996 – Officer commanding No. 7 Squadron RAF (until 1998).
- 1999 – Appointed UK air/joint advisor to the United Arab Emirates Command and Staff College, Abu Dhabi.
- 2001 – Promoted to group captain.
- 2002 – Station commander RAF St Mawgan[http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Station%20OCs-SW.htm#StMawgan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301210740/http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Station%20OCs-SW.htm |date=1 March 2009 }} / Commander RAF Search and Rescue Force (until 2003).
- 2003 – Deputy assistant chief of staff (plans), Joint Helicopter Command.
- 2006 – Promoted to air commodore on appointment as deputy commander and chief of staff, Joint Helicopter Command.{{cite web |url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/038529D7_1143_EC82_2E2D86EC47055DB8.doc |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2012-08-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819142023/http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/038529D7_1143_EC82_2E2D86EC47055DB8.doc |archivedate=19 August 2012 }}
Post RAF
Falla is currently the training director at Ascent Military Flying Training System.{{cite web|url=http://www.ascentflighttraining.net/index.php/people/profile/simon_falla|title=Simon Falla – Ascent Flight Training|website=Ascentflighttraining.net|accessdate=17 November 2017|archive-date=18 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171118221953/http://www.ascentflighttraining.net/index.php/people/profile/simon_falla|url-status=usurped}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=M W Leaming}}
{{s-ttl|title=Station Commander RAF St Mawgan|years=2002–2003}}
{{s-aft|after=J A Goodboum}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Tony Johnstone-Burt}}
{{s-ttl|title=Deputy Commander Joint Helicopter Command|years=2006–2010}}
{{s-aft|after=James Illingworth}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Falla, Simon}}
Category:Military personnel from Derbyshire
Category:Royal Air Force personnel of the Falklands War
Category:Royal Air Force personnel of the Gulf War
Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
Category:Royal Air Force officers