Our People
Our Patron
Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth
CB OBE DFC MA
Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth is Chief of the Air Staff; the 4-star commander and professional head of the Royal Air Force.
He is accountable to the Secretary of State for its fighting effectiveness, efficiency and morale.
Reporting through the Chief of the Defence Staff, he is responsible for the development, generation, integration and sustainment of the RAF in accordance with Defence policy and priorities to meet CDS strategic objectives.
Born and educated in Northern Ireland, Smyth joined the RAF in 1991 and spent 15 years as a frontline Harrier pilot and weapons instructor. He has flown hundreds of operational missions from both land bases and aircraft carriers.
Smyth was promoted to Air Marshal (3*) in 2022 and appointed as the RAF’s Deputy Commander (Operations) becoming the UK Air and Space Commander in 2023, responsible for all RAF’s air and space operations globally.
In April 2024 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, 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 and the National Security Council.
Smyth is a Patron of the Jon Egging Trust (a charity supporting troubled teenagers) and an ambassador for the RAF Charitable Trust. Smyth is 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.
Our President
Air Marshal Greg Bagwell
CB CBE
Air Marshal (Ret’d.) Greg Bagwell is President of The Air and Space Power Association. As President, his role is to maintain the support of our Patron, the Chief of the Air Staff and promote the links between the Association and senior Service, Civil Service, Industry and Media personnel. Greg served for 36 years in the Royal Air Force, leading at all levels, and retired as the Deputy Commander and a member of the Air Force Board. He joined in 1981 as a combat pilot and flew the Tornado GR1/GR4 and F-18 Hornet on operations for over 20 years. The latter half of his service career saw him become one of the RAF's most experienced operational commanders, where he oversaw combat operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria, as well as numerous humanitarian and peace keeping missions world-wide. He was the UK’s first Director of Joint Warfare, where he was responsible for the development of all UK military capability. He is a graduate of the Indian Defence Services and Staff College, Wellington. Today, he is an Executive Director for Cobham. In addition, to being the President of The Air and Space Power Association, he is also a Distinguished Fellow of the Royal United Services Institute, and a trustee of Flying for Freedom, a group dedicated to helping wounded, injured and sick service women and men learn to fly on flex-wings and microlights.
Our Chairman
Air Commodore (Ret’d) Mark Roberts CBE MA MBA RAF
Mark Roberts is the Chair of the Executive Committee of The Air and Space Power Association responsible for the Association’s strategic direction and governance and planning. Previously an operational pilot in the Royal Air Force, he commanded both 12 Squadron and RAF Lossiemouth. Mark was Director of the Air Staff with Space and Cyber Policy in his portfolio, and Head of Capability Deep Target Attack, with responsibility for Combat Air, Complex Weapons, Land Engagement and elements of the Carrier programme. Mark is Managing Director of Gravitlab, a space technology and research company based in Norwich, UK. He is also Project Director for Spaceport 1 and is a serving member of 601 Squadron.He was formerly Director Defence & Security for RHEA Group and Business Development Director International Defence, Security and Space for Atkins.
Our Director of Operations
Clive Elliott
Clive Elliott is the Director of Operations for The Air & Space Power Association and is responsible for managing the activities of the team and promoting and developing the Association’s existing and new ventures and partnerships. Clive has been a member of the Executive Committee of the ASPA since 2007 and has managed its day-to-day operations including development of the membership and organising the annual events since that time. In addition to his role at the ASPA, Clive is the owner/Director of Eventuality, a corporate event management company which he established in 1999 providing a range of event services to clients such as the Royal Air Force, Breitling, Jaguar and Airbus. Other key roles include Honorary Commander at RAF Fairford where he previously held the post of Chairman of the British American Committee helping the USAF and local communities live in perfect harmony. Clive was a member of the Royal International Air Tattoo team for many years and was the Air Show Director for RAF Cosford Air Show from 2014 to 2022. Raised in Bristol and educated at Bristol Grammar School, Clive gained a degree in Economics and Philosophy from Staffordshire University. Clive lives in Fairford with his wife Catherine and two children.
THE CHAIRMAN’S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND THE ASPA COMMITTEE
Officers of the Chairman’s Executive Committee include the Director of Operations, Secretary, Treasurer, Events Secretary and Membership Secretary. The ASPA also has a general Committee made up of the Executive Committee members, the ASPA Administrator, representatives of the Corporate Members, the ASPA PR adviser, a representative of the Individual Members and others elected or co-opted to represent the other Services and other relevant organisations.