Stuart Peach

Peach was born on 22 February 1956 in Walsall, Staffordshire to Clifford Peach and Jean Mary Peach (nee Noakes).Who's Who 2014, A & C Black, 2010, {{ISBN|978-1408181195}} He was educated at Aldridge Grammar School, in Aldridge, Staffordshire. He studied geography, economics, and social history at the University of Sheffield, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1977.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/stuart-peach|title=Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach KCB CBE DL BA MPhil DTech DLitt RAF|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=22 January 2016}} He later studied at Downing College, Cambridge, and completed a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree in 1997.

File:Tornado GR1 at Fairford 88.jpg

Peach was appointed an acting pilot officer on 1 September 1974{{London Gazette|issue=46432|date=16 December 1974|page=12878|supp=y}} and was commissioned on graduation from university as a substantive pilot officer on 15 July 1977;{{London Gazette|issue=47352|date=17 October 1977|page=13103|supp=y}} he was promoted to flying officer on 15 January 1978{{London Gazette|issue=47437|date=16 January 1978|pages=607–608|supp=y}} and to flight lieutenant on 15 October 1978.{{London Gazette|issue=47670|date=23 October 1978|page=12646|supp=y}} A navigator, Peach was posted to No. 13 Squadron in 1979 and served a tour on the English Electric Canberra in the photographic reconnaissance role before being transferred to IX (Bomber) Squadron in 1982 where he served on the ground attack variant of the Panavia Tornado in the UK.{{cite web|url=http://www.cambridgeconference.com/2007_conference_information/Celebrities/am_Peach_biog.pdf |title=Air Marshal S W Peach CBE BA MPhil DTech FRAeS |publisher=Cambridge Conference |year=2007 |access-date=22 January 2016 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708112613/http://www.cambridgeconference.com/2007_conference_information/Celebrities/am_Peach_biog.pdf |archive-date=8 July 2011 }} He transferred to No. 31 Squadron in 1984 and served on the Tornado in Germany. Promoted to squadron leader on 1 July 1986,{{London Gazette|issue=50583|date=30 June 1986|pages=8719–8720|supp=y}} he became a Qualified Weapons Instructor and received the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air in the 1990 Birthday Honours List.{{London Gazette|issue=52173|date=15 June 1990|page=27}}

After Staff College in 1990 he returned to Germany to serve as Personal Staff Officer to, in turn, Deputy Commander RAF Germany, Commander-in-Chief RAF Germany and Commander Second Allied Tactical Air Force (of which RAF Germany formed a part), being promoted to wing commander on 1 July 1991.{{London Gazette|issue=52591|date=1 July 1991|page=10091|supp=y}} Peach saw action as a Detachment Commander in Saudi Arabia during Operation Jural. From 1994 to 1996 Peach commanded IX (Bomber) Squadron operating in the Strike, Attack and SEAD role, also acting as Deputy Station Commander RAF Bruggen.

File:Stuart Peach in 95s.jpg Uniform, 2012]]

Following promotion to group captain on 1 July 1996,{{London Gazette|issue=54453|date=1 July 1996|page=8919}} Peach became Director Defence Studies (Royal Air Force) in 1997, commissioning scholarship, editing books and writing articles on air power: he secured an MPhil from Downing College, Cambridge at that time. In 1999 he was appointed Assistant Director of the Higher Command and Staff Course at the Joint Services Command and Staff College (having previously graduated from that course). He served as Commander British Forces Italy from 1999 to 2000 and NATO Air Commander (Forward) in Kosovo in 2000, as a result of which he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 6 April 2001.{{London Gazette|issue=56168|date=6 April 2001|pages=4244–4245|supp=y}}

From July 2000 to June 2003, Peach was Commandant of the Air Warfare Centre,{{cite web|url=http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Royal%20Air%20Force%20Senior%20Appointments.pdf|title= RAF Senior Appointments|page=58 |date=September 2011|access-date=22 January 2016}} and Assistant Chief of Staff Intelligence at RAF Strike Command. He was promoted to air commodore on 1 January 2001.{{London Gazette|issue=56078|date=2 January 2001|page=14622|supp=y}}

Promoted to air vice marshal on 1 August 2003,{{London Gazette|issue=57018|date= 5 August 2003|page=9733|supp=y}} Peach served as Director General Intelligence Collection from July 2003 to March 2006. He was promoted to air marshal on 17 March 2006,{{London Gazette|issue=57931|date=21 March 2006 |page=3968|supp=y}} and appointed Chief of Defence Intelligence,{{cite web|url=http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Ministry%20of%20Defence%20Senior%20Posts.pdf|title=Ministry of Defence and Tri-Service Senior Appointments|page=7|date=September 2011|access-date=22 January 2016}} becoming Chief of Joint Operations in March 2009,[http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/BEEF099A_1143_EC82_2E053C70CD30904D.doc RAF Air Rank Appointments List 04/08] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081122231653/http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/BEEF099A_1143_EC82_2E053C70CD30904D.doc |date=22 November 2008 }} retrieved 9 June 2008 having been appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2009 New Year Honours List.{{London Gazette|issue=58929|date=31 December 2008|page=2|supp=y}}

File:Stuart Peach NATO chair.jpg

Peach was promoted to air chief marshal and appointed the first commander of the new Joint Forces Command in December 2011.[http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/6B6457A8_5056_A318_A81E1C78C5513BFD.doc RAF Air Rank Appointments List 07/11] retrieved 1 December 2011 He went on to become Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff in May 2013.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-senior-military-officers-appointed |title=New senior military officers appointed|publisher= Inside Government |date=24 January 2013|access-date=24 January 2013}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-vice-chief-of-the-defence-staff|title=New Vice Chief of the Defence Staff|access-date=22 January 2016}} As of 2015, Peach was paid a salary of between £190,000 and £194,999 by the department, making him one of the 328 most highly paid people in the British public sector at that time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/492289/150K_senior_salaries.csv/preview|title=Senior officials 'high earners' salaries as at 30 September 2015 – GOV.UK|date=2015-12-17|website=gov.uk|access-date=2016-03-13|archive-date=4 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504113001/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/492289/150K_senior_salaries.csv/preview|url-status=dead}} He was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours.{{London Gazette|issue=61450|supp=y|page=N7|date=30 December 2015}}

On 22 January 2016, the Ministry of Defence announced that Peach would succeed General Sir Nick Houghton as Chief of the Defence Staff in summer 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/air-chief-marshal-sir-stuart-peach-appointed-new-chief-of-the-defence-staff |title=Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach appointed new Chief of the Defence Staff|publisher= Ministry of Defence|date= 22 January 2016|access-date=22 January 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/new-head-of-armed-forces-is-appointed-10144351|title= New Head of Armed Forces Is Appointed|publisher= Sky News|date= 22 January 2016|access-date=22 January 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/12114157/Senior-RAF-officer-who-commanded-Britains-invention-in-Libya-will-be-next-Chief-of-the-Defence-Staff.html |title=Senior RAF officer who commanded Britain's intervention in Libya will be next Chief of the Defence Staff|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=22 January 2016|access-date=22 January 2016}}{{cite news|last1=BBC News|title=Sir Stuart Peach named as new head of UK armed forces|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35379580|access-date=22 January 2016|publisher=BBC News|date=22 January 2016}} Peach took over on 14 July 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/stuart-peach|title=Sir Stuart Peach|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=14 July 2016}} He succeeded General Petr Pavel as Chairman of the NATO Military Committee on 29 June 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.defensenews.com/smr/nato-priorities/2018/06/29/nato-has-a-new-top-military-adviser/|title=NATO has a new top military adviser|publisher=Defence News|date=29 June 2018|access-date=29 June 2018}} For his services in the role, Peach was awarded the Joint Staff Medal from Italy, appointed a Commander First Class of the Order of King Abdulaziz by Saudi Arabia, and award the Commander of the Legion of Merit and National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal by the United States.{{cite web |title=Stuart Peach |url=https://www.nato.int/cps/ic/natohq/who_is_who_135089.htm |access-date=6 November 2018}} In December 2021 Peach became the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for the Western Balkans.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/stuart-peach|title=Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach GBE KCB ADC DL|website=GOV.UK}} He retired in March 2022.

File:Coat of arms of Air Chief Marshal Stuart William Peach, Baron Peach, KG, GBE, KCB, DL.png

It was announced on 14 October 2022 that Peach would be appointed a life peer by King Charles III.{{Cite web|url= https://www.gov.uk/government/news/political-peerages-2022 |title= Political Peerages 2022 |website=GOV.UK|date=14 October 2022|access-date=15 October 2022}} On 21 November 2022, he was created Baron Peach, of Grantham in the County of Lincolnshire.{{Cite web |title=Crown Office {{!}} The Gazette |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/4218269/ |access-date=2022-11-24 |website=www.thegazette.co.uk}} He sits as a crossbencher.{{cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/4975/career|title=Lord Peach|access-date=24 November 2022}}

He carried Curtana, the Sword of Mercy, at the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla.{{cite news |title=Coronation order of service in full |work=BBC News |date=5 May 2023 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65503950 |access-date=6 May 2023}}

On St George's Day 2024, Peach was appointed a Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter.{{Cite web|url=https://www.royal.uk/appointments|title=New appointments to various Orders of Chivalry announced |date=23 April 2024 |publisher=The Royal Family|access-date=23 April 2024}}{{London Gazette|issue=64378|page=8190|date=25 April 2024}}

Peach married Brigitte Ender in 1986; they have one son and one daughter. He was President of the RAF Rugby League; he is interested in sports, military history and cooking.

Peach has an honorary DTech degree from Kingston University and an honorary LittD degree from the University of Sheffield.{{cite web|url=https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/media/14994/download?attachment|title=Honorary Graduates|publisher=University of Sheffield|access-date=22 January 2016}} He is an Honorary Fellow of Downing College, Cambridge.{{cite web|url=http://www.dow.cam.ac.uk/people/fellows-directory/honorary-fellows|title=Honorary Fellows, Downing College, Cambridge|access-date=30 January 2018}}

• {{cite book |editor1-last=Peach |editor1-first=Stuart|title=Perspectives on Air Power: air power in its wider context |publisher=The Stationery Office|year=1998|isbn=978-0117728882}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [https://www.gov.uk/government/people/stuart-peach#biography Official biography] on gov.uk

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Category:1956 births

Category:Living people

Category:Alumni of the University of Sheffield

Category:Alumni of Downing College, Cambridge

Category:Knights of the Garter

Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire

Category:Deputy lieutenants of Lincolnshire

Category:Fellows of the Royal Aeronautical Society

Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath

Category:Recipients of the Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air

Category:Royal Air Force air marshals

Category:Chiefs of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)

Category:People from Walsall

Category:Military personnel from the West Midlands (county)

Category:Crossbench life peers

Category:Life peers created by Charles III

Category:Military personnel of the Kosovo War

Category:20th-century Royal Air Force personnel

Category:21st-century Royal Air Force personnel