Group Captain Simon Blake

Biography

Group Captain Simon Blake joined the Royal Air Force in March 1981. Following Fast Jet pilot training, he flew Canberras, followed by a posting as a Qualified Flying Instructor at No 4 Flying Training School, RAF Valley. He then trained as a Jaguar pilot, arriving on No 6 Squadron at RAF Coltishall in October 1991 to commence a long association with the Jaguar Force. During this period at Coltishall, Blake saw operational service in both Iraq and Bosnia.

A tour in the Aircraft Programmes and Airworthiness division of the Directorate of Air Operations followed, where Blake was responsible for the Jaguar, Canberra and Hawk fleets. Promotion and a short tour as SO1 Jaguar/Canberra/Recce at HQ No 1 Group was followed by a final posting at RAF Coltishall, this time as OC Operations Wing from Oct 2004 to Apr 2006 and then a short out-of- area posting in Iraq at Balad Air Base.

He was promoted to Group Captain in December 2006 to assume the post of Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff (A3) Operations at HQ Air Command and then served as Commandant of the Central Flying School from Oct 2009 until March 2012. This was followed by a tour as a Group Captain UK Military Flying Training System – overseeing the introduction of a new contractor provided system across UK Defence. He assumed the post of UK Defence Attaché to Poland in February 2015.

Group Captain Blake recently married Yvonne who has a son and a daughter. He is a keen photographer and enjoys gardening and recreational golf.