Born and educated in Northern Ireland, Smyth joined the RAF in 1991 and spent 15 years as a frontline Harrier pilot and weapons instructor. He has flown hundreds of operational missions from both land bases and aircraft carriers.
Smyth was promoted to Air Marshal in 2022 and appointed as the RAF’s Deputy Commander (Operations) becoming the UK Air and Space Commander in 2023, responsible for all RAF’s air and space operations globally.
In April 2024 Smyth became the first RAF officer to hold the role of Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Military Strategy and Operations – DCDS (MSO)), responsible for the provision of military advice to senior leadership across government, the development of UK military strategy and its integration with partners across government and allies, and the commissioning of UK military operations at home and across the globe. During this tour Smyth was a routine member of COBR and the National Security Council.
Smyth is a Patron of the Jon Egging Trust (a charity supporting troubled teenagers) and an ambassador for the RAF Charitable Trust. Smyth is proud to be Honorary Colonel for the 2nd Battalion (Northern Ireland) Army Cadet Force, Senior Mentor to the Northern Ireland Universities’ Air Squadron (NIUAS), and Patron of the Ulster Aviation Society, Ireland’s sole military aircraft museum.
As Chief of the Air Staff, Sir Richard is responsible for the overall effectiveness, efficiency, and morale of the RAF. He oversees the development, generation, integration, and sustainment of the RAF in alignment with defence policies and priorities. His appointment reflects a strategic shift towards embracing technological advancements and modernizing the RAF’s capabilities, including initiatives like the Tempest sixth-generation fighter jet program.
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