Where: Dialogue Society, 402 Holloway Road, London N7 6PZ
Date: 19 June 2012
With: Air Marshal Andy Pulford, CBE, RAF
Summary
The Dialogue Society was proud to host Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE, a Royal Air Force officer, currently serving as Deputy Commander Capability and Air Member for Personnel and Capability at Headquarters Air Command of the Royal Air Force. Air Marshal Pulford, who is the RAF’s Diversity Champion, formed a dialogue with the British Muslim Community to discuss key areas around what the British community think of the Royal Air Force (and the wider British Armed Forces), why Muslims are underrepresented in the Royal Air Force, why Muslims join the youth cadet organizations (such as the Air Training Corps) but then do not consider a career in the RAF and whether being a Muslim and working for the Royal Air Force (and the British Armed Forces) is a conflict of interest.
Biography of Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE
Air Marshal Andy Pulford was commissioned into the Royal Air Force as a pilot in 1977 and after flying training, joined No 72 Squadron, flying Wessex helicopters, beginning an association with the Support Helicopter Force which would last 25 years. During his flying career he accumulated over 5000 hours on both Wessex and Chinook helicopters, serving primarily in Germany with No 18 Squadron but including exchange tours with the Royal Navy’s Commando Helicopter Force and the Royal Australian Air Force. He has commanded in every rank and has seen operational service in Northern Ireland, the Falkland Islands, Lebanon, the Balkans and the Gulf.
Air Marshal Andy Pulford’s staff appointments have included command of the Support Helicopter Tactics and Trials Flight, a short spell in Headquarters Northern Ireland as the Royal Air Force and Army Air Corps Operational Requirements desk officer, a tour in the British Army’s doctrine organisation and two years as Personal Staff Officer to the Chief of Air Staff. He attended No 85 Advanced Staff Course at the Royal Air Force Staff College Bracknell in 1993 and graduated from the Higher Command and Staff Course in 2001. He was Officer Commanding Royal Air Force Odiham for two years from December 2001, which included a period of unprecedented operational activity for his command, and included large scale deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. He moved to the Directorate of Air Resources and Plans in December 2003 and was subsequently appointed to the position of Director, on promotion to Air Commodore, in August 2004. He was promoted to Air Vice-Marshal in February 2007 when he commenced an 18 month tour as AOC No 2 Group. He assumed the post of Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Operations) in the Ministry of Defence on October 2008. He took up his current role as Deputy Commander Capability and Air Member for Personnel & Capability on 31 August 2010, on promotion to Air Marshal.
Air Marshal Pulford married Nicola in August 1982 and they have a daughter and a son. He enjoys sailing, skiing and motorcycling.
Event Photos
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community
Roundtable with Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE on a Dialogue Between the Royal Air Force and the British Muslim Community