Johnny Stringer (RAF officer)

Air Marshal John Jackson Stringer (born November 1969 ) is a senior Royal Air Force officer. Since August 2022 he has been Deputy Commander, Allied Air Command.

Early life and education
Stringer was born in Sale, Cheshire in November 1969. He was educated at Watford Grammar School for Boys and New College, Oxford. He is a graduate of the U.K. Advanced and Higher Command and Staff Courses, the Royal College of Defence Studies and holds master's degrees from the University of Oxford and King's College London.

RAF career
Stringer was commissioned into the Royal Air Force in 1993. After officer and pilot training, he joined the Jaguar Force at RAF Coltishall. A Qualified Weapon Instructor, he flew operationally over Yugoslavia and helped enforce the Northern Iraq No Fly Zone.

From 2007 to 2009, Stringer served as air officer commanding No. 29 Squadron RAF, the Typhoon Operational Conversion Unit at RAF Coningsby. He spent two years as Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff (DACOS) Joint Effects in the J3 Division of the Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood.

Between October 2012 and September 2014, he commanded RAF Coningsby and its Typhoon Wing. He was posted as Assistant Chief of Staff Operations (ACOS Ops) to Headquarters Air Command in August 2015. He went on to command No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group as the UK Air Component Commander between October 2016 and October 2017, and oversaw all air operations in Operation Shader.

On 11 May 2018, in the 2018 Special Honours, Stringer was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field during the period 1 April 2017 to 30 September 2017".

Promoted to Air Vice-Marshal, he served as Chief of Staff at Joint Forces Command (JFC) and subsequently Director of Strategy as JFC evolved into UK Strategic Command, overseeing its work on the 2021 UK Defence and Security Integrated Review.

In August 2022, he was promoted to air marshal and was simultaneously appointed Deputy Commander, Allied Air Command. Stringer has over 3000 flying hours, predominantly on single-seat combat aircraft.

Personal life
Johnny is married to Lisa and has two sons. His interests include history, art and literature, food and drink, and road cycling. He is the President of the Royal Air Force Gliding & Soaring Association.