Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, the Head of the Armed Forces and principal military adviser to the Secretary of State for Defence and the government, will be the guest speaker at the second Odyssey Supper of 2017. Sir Stuart peach will be speaking about 'Travelling as a non-tourist'.
In what is sure to be an insightful and entertaining evening at the House of Commons, the event will begin with welcome drinks followed by a three-course meal in Dining Room A, after which Sir Stuart will talk to the select number of attendees.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach was born in 1956 in the West Midlands. He was educated at Aldridge Grammar School, the University of Sheffield (BA), University of Cambridge (MPhil), RAF Staff College and the Joint Services Command and Staff College (HCSC). He holds three honorary Doctorates from Kingston University, University of Sheffield, and University of Loughborough.
Commissioned into the Royal Air Force in 1977, he flew Canberras in the photographic reconnaissance role prior to three successive tours on Tornado GR1 in the UK and Germany, qualifying as a weapons and electronic warfare instructor. He commanded IX (Bomber) Squadron at RAF Brüggen in Germany 1994-1996. Staff tours include personal staff officer to the Deputy Commander and Commander-in-Chief in RAF Germany, Executive Officer to Commander Second Allied Tactical Air Force and Director Defence Studies Royal Air Force.
Operational service includes Belize, Hong Kong and Germany in the 1980s, Deputy Commander British Forces in Turkey (Op Warden), UK Head Military Coordination Centre Zakho (Iraq), Detachment Commander in Saudi Arabia (Op Jural), Commander British Forces in Italy (Op Engadine), Air Commander (Forward) in HQ KFOR on Kosovo and Deputy Senior British Military Adviser in US HQ Central Command 2001-2002.
He commanded the Air Warfare Centre at RAF Waddington from 2000 to 2003, was Director General Intelligence Collection in the Ministry of Defence 2003-2006 and Chief of Defence Intelligence and Deputy Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee 2006-2009. He held the appointment of Chief of Joint Operations at PJHQ(UK) from March 2009-December 2011 before becoming the first Commander of the UK Joint Forces Command from December 2011-Apr 2013. He was Vice Chief of the Defence Staff from May 2013-May 2016. He assumed the role of Chief of the Defence Staff on 14 Jul 16.
Air Chief Marshal Peach is married with two children. He is a Deputy Lord Lieutenant of the County of Lincolnshire, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum, Honorary Colonel of the Joint Services Signals Unit (Volunteers) and 167 Catering Support Regiment RLC (Reserves) and an Honorary Fellow of Downing College Cambridge. He is President Combined Services Rugby League.