Air Commodore Howard Edwards

Combat Air Force Commander Royal Air Force

As Combat Air Force Commander Air Cdre Edwards is responsible for the delivery and output of the UK F-35 Force, the Typhoon Force, the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Air Cdre Howie Edwards joined the RAF through an RAF Sixth Form and Flying Scholarship directly from school. He converted to the Tornado ground-attack aircraft and his first operational tour was with IX(B) Squadron at RAF Brüggen in the Strike/Attack and SEAD roles. This tour concluded in 1999 after his involvement in OP ENGADINE as part of the Kosovo Air Campaign.

He served as a Tornado GR4 Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) Instructor before becoming a Qualified Weapons Instructor (QWI). In 2001 he began a tour on 12(B) Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth as the QWI pilot during which he conducted missions from Al Udeid AB as part of the UK Air Component during Op TELIC in March 2003.

Promoted to squadron leader he returned to the Tornado OCU where he was responsible for Tornado GR4 post-graduate training and latterly as the Executive Officer. His first staff appointment followed as a Career Manager at RAF Innsworth, responsible for the postings and career management of all RAF fast jet junior officer pilots.

Promoted wing commander he oversaw policy, postings and career management of all RAF aircrew below the rank of Squadron Leader until his move to Canberra, Australia, to attend the Advanced Staff and Command Course (Joint) with the Australian Defence Force. He graduated from the Course achieving a Grad Dip in Defence Studies and was awarded the Chief of Air Force Prize. On return from Australia, Air Cdre Edwards assumed command of XIII Squadron (Tornado GR4) at RAF Marham during which he deployed with his squadron to Afghanistan in support of Op HERRICK and led the early long range Storm Shadow missions over Libya in 2011.

On disbandment of XIII Sqn, Air Cdre Edwards served as PSO to the Chief of the Air Staff after which he completed time in the CENTCOM 609th CAOC, Al Udeid, as Dep Hd of the Strat Div. On return from this tour Gp Capt Edwards filled the post of Combat Air Strategist within the Air Staff, MOD London, prior to promotion to Gp Capt and his subsequent tour in Al Udeid as a Coalition CAOC Battle Director. This OOA tour was followed by 20 months in NATO at the AIRCOM CAOC in Uedem, Germany, where he served as Div Hd Trg & Ex and as the UK SNR.

Returning to the UK, Air Cdre Edwards took command of No 6FTS delivering the RAF’s 15 University Air Squadrons and Air Cadet Air Experience Flying. This was followed by a tour as Typhoon Dep Force Commander from which he was promoted to Air Cdre and became the Combat Air Force Commander in Jan 2023.

Air Cdre Edwards has flown over 3500 hours and has flown more than 100 combat missions over a multitude of operational theatres.