INTRODUCTION

• Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Douglas Pulford, KCB, CBE, ADC, was born and brought up in Newark, Nottinghamshire, then attended Royal Air Force College, Cranwell, in Lincolnshire.

• He joined the RAF as a helicopter pilot in 1977 and went on to fly Westland Wessex and Puma helicopters

• He served in Northern Ireland and the Falklands War during early operational deployments. He went on to serve in Lebanon, the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan.

• Sir Andrew held several command roles including Commanding Officer of No. 33 Squadron RAF and Station Commander at RAF Aldergrove

• He progressed through senior leadership positions, including Air Officer Commanding No. 2 Group RAF and Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Operations)

• Sir Andrew was appointed Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) in July 2013 – the first helicopter pilot to become Chief of the Air Staff in the RAF's history. He served as professional head of the RAF until his retirement in July 2016.

• In 1994 – as a Group Captain – he chaired the RAF’s initial inquiry into the Mull of Kintyre Chinook crash that killed 29 people.

LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS from Sir Andrew Pulford…

• Lead with clear intent

“[Ask yourself] What are we about? What are we for? What are we doing? If people don’t know why they’re there, then you’ve got something very wrong.”

• Set achievable goals

“If you’re offering [the people you’re leading] something that’s over-ambitious, and they can see that, then they’re not going to be with you… your credibility is gone.”

• Build shared purpose

“You’ve got to get people to buy into what you’re for… and they’ve got to believe in it.”

• Practice self-criticism and reflection

“At the end of any sortie, I sat down and debriefed – good and bad. You get into the habit of self-criticism. That didn’t stop when I stopped flying.”

• Balance strategic focus with human connection

“Go and listen [to people lower down the organisation], because stuff gets filtered if you’re at the very top. Sometimes you have to go and find out for yourself.”

• Lead by sharing adversity

“[When I was a commanding officer] I put the kit on and went on foot patrol in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, with the Royal Air Force regiment… [I gained a lot of] credibility and respect from that act.”

• Always aim for excellence

“What’s wrong with striving to be the best you can possibly be?”

RELATED LINKS

Find out more about Sir Andrew Pulford…

• On the website of the Care after Combat charity, where he is a patron

• In his Veterans Interview, with Paul Saxby, on YouTube

• Through his speech to Defence and Security Equipment International

If you enjoyed this episode of the NBS Business Leaders’ Podcast with Sir Andrew Pulford, listen to previous episodes with…

• Air Marshal Sir Baz North KCB, OBE

• Former Chief Exec of the Financial Ombudsman Service Caroline Wayman

• Sir John Peace CVO, CStJ