Ro Atherton

Group Captain Rowena Atherton was a Royal Air Force (RAF) officer.

Rowena Atherton
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1979 –
RankGroup Captain
Commands heldRAF Wittering (2006–08)
Battles/warsWar in Afghanistan

With a logistics background, Atherton joined the RAF aged 17 in 1979 and completed training at RAF Henlow.

She was the first female Station Commander at RAF Wittering and was charged with the radical reorganisation of the Royal Air Force's logistics organisation. This included the relocation of the majority of RAF Air Combat Support Units (ACSUs) to the station and the creation of the A4 Force Headquarters.[1]

Atherton raised a national controversy when she banned RAF Wittering personnel from wearing uniform while off duty. This was in response to reports that personnel from the station were receiving abuse due to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Atherton deployed to Afghanistan in July 2008 as Deputy Commander Joint Force Support Headquarters.[2]

References
  1. RAF Wittering A4 Force Headquarters A Guide to the Mission and Roles retrieved 2 January 2009
  2. RAF's first female Force Commander ready for Afghanistan retrieved 27 June 2008
Military offices
Preceded by
Ashley Stevenson		 Station Commander RAF Wittering
2006–2008		 Succeeded by
Paul Higgins
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