Suraya Marshall

Defending skies and breaking barriers in RAF combat aviation

Air Marshal Suraya Marshall CBE broke new ground in British military aviation in 2000, becoming the first woman to pass the Royal Air Force’s Tornado F3 Qualified Weapons Instructor Course. Just six years after joining as a navigator, she had mastered one of the RAF’s most demanding tactical qualifications, establishing the operational expertise that would underpin her rise to senior command.

Raised in York, Marshall studied law at the University of Nottingham, where membership of the East Midlands University Air Squadron introduced her to military flying. Coming from a mixed-race family with no military connections, she entered the RAF in 1994, shortly after women gained access to operational aircrew roles. Across three Tornado F3 tours, she deployed on operations to Iraq and conducted Quick Reaction Alert duties defending British and Falkland Islands airspace.

Her career expanded from intercepting potential airborne threats to helping direct multinational air campaigns. In 2003, she worked in the Middle East Combined Air Operations Centre, contributing to the planning and execution of coalition air operations during the Iraq War. Returning to senior operational responsibilities in 2019, she served as Director of Coalition Air Operations across Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, the Arabian Gulf, the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.

Marshall’s command appointments included Fast Jet Weapons System Officer Training, No. 92(R) Squadron in the Air Warfare Centre, and No. 55(R) Squadron, responsible for rear-crew flying training. She also served as Deputy Commander of the RAF’s Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance Force. Alongside these appointments, she gained experience in defence procurement, Typhoon training transformation and the Ministry of Defence, including service as Military Assistant to the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff.

Appointed Commandant of RAF College Cranwell in 2019, Marshall helped shape the officers and aircrew who would follow her into service. In 2021, she became the first woman appointed to command one of the RAF’s operational air groups. As Air Officer Commanding No. 2 Group, she led forces delivering air mobility, force protection, battlespace management and operational support.

Marshall was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2022 Birthday Honours. She served as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff from June 2024 to November 2025 before taking up the appointment of Deputy Commander, Cyber & Specialist Operations Command, as an air marshal on 28 November 2025.

A graduate of both the Advanced and Higher Command and Staff Courses, she holds a master’s degree in Defence Studies. She is married to Air Marshal Allan Marshall, and they have two children. Her progression from university air squadron navigator to senior joint commander reflects a career built on tactical proficiency, operational leadership and the opening of new opportunities for women in the Royal Air Force.