Air Vice-Marshal Peter James Murray Squires, OBE, ADC is a senior Royal Air Force officer, who currently serves as the Commander of British Forces Cyprus. From August 2016 to October 2019 he served as Commandant of RAF College Cranwell. He was formerly a Harrier pilot and served as commander of No. 100 Squadron RAF, flying BAE Systems Hawks.[1][2]
Peter Squires | |
|---|---|
 Squires' official portrait | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1989–present |
| Rank | Air Vice-Marshal |
| Commands held | |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air |
Early life and education
From 1975 to 1986, Squires was educated at Warwick School, an all-boys public school in Warwick.[3] He learned to fly at Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield, passing his junior flying test at the age of sixteen.[4] Having received a bursary, he studied aeronautics and astronautics at the University of Southampton.[2][5]
RAF career
On 1 October 1989, Squires was granted a short service commission in the General Duties Branch of the Royal Air Force (RAF).[6] On 1 April 1990, he was promoted to flying officer, with seniority in that rank from 1 October 1988.[7] He was promoted to flight lieutenant on 1 April 1992.[8] Squires transferred to a permanent commission in the RAF on 2 May 1997.[9] Flying Harrier IIs, in the same year he took part in the No. 1 Squadron RAF display, before in 1998 he deployed for five months in Operation Bolton.[5] He was promoted to squadron leader on 1 July 1999.[10]
Having been promoted to wing commander on 1 January 2005,[11] Squires served as Wing Commander Joint Combat Aircraft Requirements' Manager before attending the Advanced Command and Staff Course to study for a master's degree in Defence Studies. He then joined 3rd (United Kingdom) Division, commanding the Divisional Air Cell and serving as the senior air advisor to the general officer commanding the division. He deployed with the division in the Iraq War in 2008 as Chief Air Plans for the Multi-National Division (South-East).[5]
From April 2009 to April 2011, Squires commanded No. 100 Squadron RAF, a Hawk squadron based at RAF Leeming.[5] He was Commanding Officer of the 906 Expeditionary Air Wing during Operation Unified Protector, the NATO-enforced no-fly zone over Libya, from June 2011.[5][12] He left the command towards the end of the year.[13] He was promoted to group captain on 1 January 2012 and,[14] in the 2012 New Year Honours, was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his services with No. 100 Squadron.[15][5] In the Spring he was appointed Director of Defences Studies for the RAF.[5]
It was announced in December 2015 that Squires would be the next Commandant of Royal Air Force College Cranwell.[16] He then studied at Royal College of Defence Studies to prepare for the command.[2] In August 2016, he succeeded Chris Luck as commandant and was made an Aide-de-Camp to The Queen.[1][17] In October 2019 he left Cranwell to take up the post of Head Directorate Operational Capability in the Ministry of Defence.[18]
Squires was promoted to air vice-marshal on 1 September 2022, when he was appointed Commander of British Forces Cyprus and Administrator of the Sovereign Base Areas.[19]
Personal life
Squires is married with three children.[4]