Christopher Coville
| Christopher Coville | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1945 (age 70–71)
|
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1964–2003 |
| Rank | Air Marshal |
| Commands held |
Personnel and Training Command Training Units RAF Coningsby No. 111 (Fighter) Squadron |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath |
Air Marshal Sir Christopher Charles Cotton Coville, KCB (born 1945) is a retired senior Royal Air Force commander.
RAF career
Born in Liverpool, Coville joined the Royal Air Force in 1964, at the height of the Cold War.[1] Early in his career he flew Lightnings and F4 Phantoms.[1] He assumed command of No. 111 (Fighter) Squadron in 1983,[2] and then became Group Captain Air at Headquarters No. 11 Group.[1] In 1986 he became Station Commander at RAF Coningsby,[3] where he flew Tornado F3 and displayed Hurricanes and Spitfires on the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.[1] Promoted to air vice marshal, he became Air Officer Commanding Training Units in 1992, Assistant Chief of Defence Staff Operational Requirements (Air Systems) in 1994 and Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Allied Forces Central Europe in 1998.[1] In 2000 his NATO command was absorbed into the Regional Headquarters Allied Forces North Europe of which Coville became the Deputy Commander-in-Chief.[4] In March 2001 he became the Air Member for Personnel and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Personnel and Training Command.[1] He retired in 2003.[1]
Coville was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 2000 New Year Honours.[1]
In retirement he was appointed Chairman of Westland Helicopters.[1]
Family
He is married to Irene and they have one son and two daughters.[1]
References
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by M B Elsam |
Station Commander RAF Coningsby 1986 – c. 1988 |
Succeeded by Martin Widdowson |
| Preceded by Sir Michael Stear |
Deputy Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Central Europe 1998–2000 |
None (Command absorbed into Regional HQ Allied Forces North Europe) |
| Preceded by Sir John Day |
Commander-in-Chief Personnel and Training Command Air Member for Personnel 2001–2003 |
Succeeded by Sir Joe French |