Air Vice-Marshal Maria Byford, is a senior retired Royal Air Force officer who served as Chief of Staff Personnel and Air Secretary from February 2020 to July 2023.

Maria Byford
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1991–2023
RankAir Vice Marshal
CommandsRAF Medical Services
Medical Joint Force Support
Battles / warsWar in Afghanistan

RAF career

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Byford studied dentistry at King's College London, graduating with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree in 1991.[1] That year, she joined the Royal Air Force (RAF).[2] After a career in dentistry, she became Head of the Personnel Division at HQ Surgeon-General in 2011.[2] Following deployment as commander of Medical Joint Force Support in Afghanistan in 2014, she became Head of Future Healthcare at HQ Surgeon-General in 2015 and Head of RAF Medical Services in 2019.[3][4] She was appointed Honorary Dental Surgeon to the Queen (QHDS) in 2015.[2]

In February 2020 Byford was appointed Air Secretary with effect from 24 February 2020.[5] She retired from the service in July 2023.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Chief of Staff Personnel and Air Secretary: Air Vice-Marshal Maria Byford QHDS". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Speakers: Air Commodore Maria Byford, Institute of Defence and Government Affairs
  3. ^ "Sir Arthur Marshall Lecture". Cambridgeshire Aeronautical Society. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  4. ^ "Double first for Air Commodore Byford". RAF News. 12 July 2009. p. 12. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  5. ^ "Senior Appointments 10 February 2020". raf.mod.uk. Royal Air Force. 10 February 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  6. ^ "Senior appointments". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
Military offices
Preceded by Air Secretary
2020–2023
Succeeded by