UK Space Power Conference 2026
Secure in Space
Prosperous at Home

Born and educated in Northern Ireland, Smyth joined the RAF in 1991 via the Sixth Form Scholarship Scheme, and upon completion of flying training, spent 15 years as a frontline Harrier pilot and weapons instructor. He has extensive combat experience having flown hundreds of operational missions from both land bases and aircraft carriers over: Bosnia; Kosovo; Serbia; Iraq; and Afghanistan. In early staff roles Smyth worked in the UK Air & Space Warfare Centre and spent 2 tours in the F-35 Lightning programme, the latter based in Washington DC as the UK’s F-35 National Director.

In 2013 Smyth retrained as a Tornado pilot and became the Station Commander of RAF Marham, transitioning the base for F-35 integration. On promotion to Air Commodore (1*) in 2015 he became the Tornado Force Commander, and in parallel, the UK’s first F-35 Lightning Force Commander. He followed this with a short appointment in the MOD as the 1* Head of Carrier Enabled Power Projection (CEPP), before deploying to Qatar as Director of the 609th Combined Air and Space Operations Centre during the height of the Counter-Daesh campaign. 

Promoted to Air Vice-Marshal (2*) in 2018, Smyth retrained as a Typhoon pilot and became Air Officer Commanding Number 1 Group (AOC 1Gp), where he was responsible for the Air Combat Group of the RAF. In 2020, Smyth then became UK MOD’s inaugural Director Space, setting the foundation for UK Space Command, building the Defence Space Programme, and producing UK’s foundational National and Defence Space Strategies.

Smyth was promoted to Air Marshal (3*) in 2022 and appointed as the RAF’s Deputy Commander (Operations): this role transitioned to become the UK Air and Space Commander in 2023 and was responsible for all RAF’s air and space operations globally.

In Apr 24 Smyth became the first RAF officer to hold the role of Deputy Chief of Defence Staff – Military Strategy and Operations (DCDS (MSO), responsible for the provision of military advice to senior leadership across government including the Prime Minister, the development of UK military strategy and its integration with partners across government and allies, and the commissioning of UK military operations at home and across the globe. During this tour Smyth was a routine member of COBR, the Joint Intelligence Committee, Small Ministerial Groups, and the National Security Council.

Smyth is a Patron of 2 charities: the Jon Egging Trust (supporting troubled teenagers) and the Mark Long Trust (giving disadvantaged individuals the wings to fly). He is also President of RAF Rugby, President of RAF Rowing, President of the RAF Small Arms Association, Admiral of RAF Sailing Association, a Board Member of the Freeman Air and Space Institute, and an ambassador for the RAF Charitable Trust. With strong links to Northern Ireland, Smyth is extremely proud to be Honorary Colonel for the 2nd Battalion (Northern Ireland) Army Cadet Force, Senior Mentor to the Northern Ireland Universities’ Air Squadron (NIUAS), and Patron of the Ulster Aviation Society, Ireland’s sole military aircraft museum.

Honours

• 2003 – Distinguished Flying Cross – DFC
• 2010 – Officer of the Order of the British Empire – OBE
• 2013 – US Meritorious Service Medal
• 2018 – US Legion of Merit
• 2020 – Companion of the Order of the Bath – CB
• 2025 – Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath – KCB