Rich Knighton

Air Chief Marshal

Sir Rich Knighton

KCB ADC FREng
Air Chief Marshal Knighton in 2023
Birth nameRichard John Knighton
Born1969 (age 56–57)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
BranchRoyal Air Force
Service years1988–present
RankAir Chief Marshal
Commands
ConflictsKosovo War
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Alma materRoyal Air Force College Cranwell
Clare College, Cambridge (BA)
SpouseCaitlin

Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard John Knighton, KCB, ADC, FREng (born 1969) is a British engineer and a senior officer in the Royal Air Force (RAF). He has served as Chief of the Defence Staff since September 2025.

Knighton previously served as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff from January 2015 to January 2017, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Financial and Military Capability) from December 2018 to May 2022, Deputy Commander Capability at Air Command from May 2022 to May 2023 and Chief of the Air Staff from June 2023 to August 2025. He is notable for being the first Chief of the Air Staff who is not a military pilot or indeed aircrew-qualified.

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