David Niven (RAF officer)

Air Vice Marshal David Miller Niven, CB, CBE is a former Royal Air Force officer who served as the inaugural Commander of Joint Helicopter Command from 1999 to 2002.

David Niven
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1968–2003
RankAir Vice Marshal
Commands heldJoint Helicopter Command
RAF Aldergrove
No. 78 Squadron
No. 18 Squadron
Battles/warsOperation Banner
Falklands War
Gulf War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service

RAF career

Educated at the University of St Andrews, Niven joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1968.[1] He served as Commanding Officer of No. 18 Squadron and then No. 78 Squadron, before becoming Station Commander at RAF Aldergrove; he was air advisor to the Director SAS during the Falklands War in 1982 and Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff, Plans during the Gulf War in 1991.[2]

Niven was a member of the implementation team to establish the Permanent Joint Headquarters at Northwood and then became the first commander of the new Joint Helicopter Command in October 1999 before retiring in January 2003.[3]

Niven became Air Officer Northern Ireland on 1 September 2011 as a member of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.[4]

References

  1. "No. 44699". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 October 1968. p. 11328.
  2. RAF Historical Society Journal 25
  3. "Biography: Air Vice-Marshal David Niven". Archived from the original on 28 February 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  4. "RAF Appointments List 6/11".
Military offices
New command Commander Joint Helicopter Command
1999–2002
Succeeded by
Paul Luker
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