Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Military Strategy and Operations)

Air Marshal Harv Smyth CB OBE DFC MA RAF

Biography

Born and educated in Northern Ireland, Harv Smyth joined the RAF in 1991 as a Direct Entrant. He spent 15 years as a frontline Harrier pilot and weapons instructor and has flown hundreds of operational missions from both land bases and aircraft carriers over Bosnia, Kosovo, Serbia, Iraq and Afghanistan.

In early staff roles Smyth worked in the UK Air & Space Warfare Centre and spent 2 tours in the F-35 Lightning programme, the latter based in Washington DC as the UK’s F-35 National Director.

In 2013 Smyth retrained as a Tornado pilot and became the Station Commander of RAF Marham, delivering concurrent operations in Afghanistan, West Africa, Iraq and Syria, alongside transitioning the base for F-35 integration. On promotion to Air Commodore (1) in 2015 he became the Tornado Force Commander. Promoted to Air Vice-Marshal (2) in 2018, Smyth retrained as a Typhoon pilot and became Air Officer Commanding Number 1 Group (AOC 1Gp). Smyth was promoted to Air Marshal (3*) in 2022 and appointed as the RAF’s Deputy Commander (Operations): this role transitioned to become the UK Air and Space Commander in 2023.

He is Patron of the Jon Egging Trust (a charity supporting troubled teenagers); President of RAF Rugby, Rowing and Small Arms; a Board Member of the Freeman Air and Space Institute; and ambassador for the RAF Charitable Trust. With strong links to Northern Ireland, Smyth is extremely proud to be Honorary Colonel for the 2nd Battalion (NI) Army Cadet Force, Senior Mentor to the Northern Ireland Universities’ Air Squadron and Patron of the Ulster Aviation Society, Ireland’s sole military aircraft museum.

He is married with 2 grown-up daughters.

Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Military Strategy and Operations)

Provide advice to ministers on the range of Defence operations and integrate with partners across government to deliver the UK’s national security objectives. Direct Defence operation strategies and shape the Defence activity in the role of Strategic headquarters. Work with allies and partners internationally to mitigate risks to the UK.

Responsibilities

  • directing operations at a strategic level on behalf of CDS.
  • lead the Defence Crisis Management Organisation
  • direct and provide oversight of UKSF operations and training on behalf of CDS.
  • provide military advice across Whitehall on domestic and overseas military strategy.
  • promote and articulate UK military interests, military strategy and operational priorities with international organisations, allies and partners.
  • chair the Strategic Effects and Force Alignment Board and Joint Commitments Strategic Steering Group to prioritise and harmonise high level Defence activity.
  • lead and motivate military officers and civil servants in Sec Pol & Ops.

Ministry of Defence