The Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (ACAS) is a senior appointment in the Royal Air Force. The current ACAS is Air Vice-Marshal Ian Townsend.
The post was originally established circa February 1938, but without being made a member of the Air Council.
The ACAS post was re-established in 1985 by eliminating the Vice Chief of the Air Staff and combining the Policy and Operations two star assistant chiefs. In 1992, ACAS became a member of the Air Force Board. The ACAS is responsible for "assisting the Chief of the Air Staff in generating a balanced and integrated Royal Air Force capability and for maintaining the fighting effectiveness and morale of the Service including the development of policy." One of the many duties of the ACAS is to sit on the board of the Civil Aviation Authority as a non-executive member.
Assistant Chiefs of the Air Staff from 1985 1985–1986: Anthony Skingsley 1987–1989: Michael Simmons 1989–1991: John Thomson 1991–1992: Timothy Garden 1992–1994: Anthony Bagnall 1994–1996: Peter Squire 1996–1998: Timothy Jenner 1998–2000: Jock Stirrup 2000–2003: Philip Sturley 2003–2005: David Walker 2005–2007: Chris Moran 2007–2010: Tim Anderson 2010–2013: Barry North 2013–2015: Edward Stringer 2015–2017: Rich Knighton 2017–2018: Michael Wigston 2018–2019: Gerry Mayhew 2019–2021: Ian Gale 2021–2023: Simon Edwards 2023–2024: Tim Jones 2024–2025: Suraya Marshall 2025–present: Ian Townsend
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