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Clive Robert Loader
Air Chief Marshal Sir Clive Loader. Photo Crown Copyright.
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1973 – present
Rank	Air Chief Marshal
Commands	Air Command

Air Chief Marshal Sir Clive Robert Loader, KCB, OBE, FRAeS, RAF is Commander-in-Chief Air Command (CinC AIR).

Educated at The Judd School, Tonbridge, Air Marshal Loader joined the RAF in 1973. After flying training, he was posted to Harriers serving tours on No 1(F) Squadron at RAF Wittering and IV (Army Cooperation) Squadron at RAF Gutersloh, Germany. After an instructional tour on the Operational Conversion Unit (during which he displayed the Harrier) he was promoted to Squadron Leader (1984), and served as a Flight Commander in Germany. Staff College (1988) was followed by 10 months on the Harrier Role Desk in the MOD prior to being promoted to Wing Commander (1989). After a short tour at Rheindahlen, he became Personal Staff Officer to the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Strike Command (Sir Michael Graydon).

Air Marshal Loader then commanded No 3 (Fighter) Squadron, at RAF Laarbruch (1993 to 1995). The Squadron participated in operations over Northern Iraq and Bosnia, as well as being the first Germany-based Harrier Squadron to convert to night operations. Promoted to Group Captain in 1995, he then attended the Higher Command and Staff College. He took command of RAF Laarbruch in October 1996, the Station at that time comprising 2 Harrier GR7 squadrons, one joint Puma/Chinook squadron, 2 RAF Regiment squadrons (Rapier and Field), and HQ Tactical Survive to Operate Wing - in all, some 2300 Service personnel plus a further 4500 civilians and dependants. Air Marshal Loader flew the last Harrier aircraft out of RAF Laarbruch when the Station closed in May 1999.

A short tour in MOD Air Plans (latterly Air RP) followed, after which he was promoted to Air Commodore (1999) to lead the RAF Admin Support Study. He served (2000 to 2001) as Air Commodore Harrier, HQ 3 Group where he was responsible for RAF and RN Harriers. After a 10 month tour (2001 to 2002) in the UK Permanent Joint Headquarters (ACOS J3) he was promoted to Air Vice-Marshal and appointed as ACDS(Ops). He was appointed as Deputy Commander-in-Chief Strike Command, in the rank of Air Marshal, in June 2004 and the first Commander-in-Chief of Air Command on 01 April 2007 in the rank of Air Chief Marshal.