Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)

Chief of the Air Staff
Badge of the Royal Air Force
Ensign of the Royal Air Force
(CAS Command Flag)
since 2 June 2023
Ministry of Defence
Royal Air Force
StyleAir Chief Marshal
AbbreviationCAS
Member ofDefence Council
Air Force Board
Chiefs of Staff Committee
Reports toChief of the Defence Staff
NominatorSecretary of State for Defence
AppointerPrime Minister
Subject to formal approval by the King-in-Council[1]
Term length3 Years
Formation3 January 1918
First holderMajor General Sir Hugh Trenchard
DeputyDeputy Chief of the Air Staff
WebsiteOfficial website

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) is the professional head of the Royal Air Force and a member of both the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Air Force Board. The post was created in 1918 with Major General Sir Hugh Trenchard as the first incumbent. The current and 30th Chief of the Air Staff is Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, who succeeded Sir Michael Wigston on 2 June 2023.[2]

  1. ^ Departmental Resource Accounts 2006-7 Ministry of Defence
  2. ^ "Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton KCB FREng". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 2 June 2023.