{{about|the RAF officer|the journalist and author|Iain Gale}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox military person | name = Ian Gale | image = AVM Ian Gale (cropped).jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = | nickname = Windy | birth_date = | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | burial_place = | allegiance = United Kingdom | branch = Royal Air Force | service_years = 1989–2024 | rank = Air Marshal | service_number = 8304212Q | unit = | commands = RAF Lossiemouth (2011–13)<br/>No. 31 Squadron (2008–10) | battles = Iraq War<br/>War in Afghanistan<br/>Operation Ellamy | awards = Companion of the Order of the Bath<br/>Member of the Order of the British Empire | alma_mater = King's College London<br/>Open University | relations = | other_work = }} '''Ian David Gale''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100|CB|MBE}} is a retired officer in the Royal Air Force, serving as Director-General of Joint Force Development, Strategic Command from 2021 to 2024.<ref name=senior>{{cite web|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/senior-appointments/|title=2021 Senior Appointments|publisher=Royal Air Force|accessdate=4 March 2021}}</ref>

==Early life and education== Gale was educated at Sir Thomas Picton School, a comprehensive school in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales. He joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) after finishing school. He studied for a Master of Arts degree in defence studies and international relations at King's College London, graduating in 2006. He studied for a Master of Business Administration with the Open University, graduating in 2012.<ref name="WW 2021">{{cite web |title=Gale, Air Vice-Marshal Ian David, Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Ministry of Defence, since 2019 |url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U292636 |website=Who's Who 2021 |language=en |date=1 December 2020}}</ref>

==RAF career== Gale joined the RAF in 1989.<ref name="WW 2021" /> After attending the Royal Air Force College Cranwell, he was commissioned as an acting pilot officer on 26 September 1989.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=52045|page=1974|date=12 February 1990}}</ref> He served as a fast jet pilot and weapons instructor from 1989 to 2005 and,<ref name="WW 2021" /> in the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours, was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=57315 |page=6 |supp=y |date=12 June 2004}}</ref>

Gale became officer commanding No. 31 Squadron in 2008,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.simplyplanes.co.uk/panavia_tornado.shtml|title=Panavia Tornado|publisher=Simply Planes|accessdate=15 March 2019}}{{Dead link|date=March 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> and station commander at RAF Lossiemouth in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insidemoray.com/community-saved-raf-lossiemouth-for-thirty-years/|title=Community saved RAF Lossiemouth 'for thirty years'|publisher=Inside Moray|date=15 August 2013|accessdate=15 March 2019}}</ref> After operational service as Deputy Air Component Commander for Operation Ellamy,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/evening-express-city-final/20120329/281857230502307|title=RAF boss loves job|date=29 March 2012|publisher=Evening Express|accessdate=15 March 2019}}</ref> he became Assistant Chief of Staff for command, control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance programmes in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/globalmediapartners/docs/raf-air-power-2017/66|title=RAF Air Power 2017 |publisher=21st Century Partnerships|accessdate=15 March 2019}}</ref>

In April 2019, Gale was promoted to air vice-marshal and appointed Assistant Chief of the Air Staff.<ref name=senior/> In April 2021, he was promoted to air marshal and appointed Director-General of Joint Force Development, Strategic Command.<ref name=senior/> He retired from the Air Force on 24 April 2024.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=64406 |date=28 May 2024 |page=10215 |supp=y }}</ref> Gale was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2024 New Year Honours.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=64269 |date=30 December 2023 |page=N2 |supp= y }}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{s-start}} {{s-mil}} {{s-bef|before=Andy Hine}} {{s-ttl|title=Station Commander RAF Lossiemouth|years=2011–2013}} {{s-aft|after=Mark Chappell}} |- {{s-bef|before=Gerry Mayhew}} {{s-ttl|title=Assistant Chief of the Air Staff|years=2019–2021}} {{s-aft|after=Simon Edwards}} |- {{s-bef|before=Edward Stringer}} {{s-ttl|title=Director-General of Joint Force Development, Strategic Command|years=2021–2024}} {{s-aft|after=TBA}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gale, Ian}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:Alumni of the Open University Category:Alumni of King's College London Category:Companions of the Order of the Bath Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire Category:Royal Air Force air marshals Category:20th-century Royal Air Force personnel Category:21st-century Royal Air Force personnel Category:Royal Air Force personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)