Chief of the Air Staff's Warrant Officer
Warrant Officer Gary Wilcox
Warrant Officer Wilcox joined the Royal Air Force in October 1974 as a Halton Apprentice (Entry No 124) and during this period represented the RAF at both football and athletics. On graduation, he was posted to 2nd line (Vulcan) RAF Scampton, promoted to Corporal in 1978 and attained an HNC in Mechanical Engineering.
In 1981, he was promoted to Sergeant and posted to 33 Sqn (Pumas), RAF Odiham. This busy and frenetic period witnessed numerous detachments, the memorable being Belize, N Ireland, Portugal, Turkey and Norway. Whilst in Norway, he was in a Gazelle crash during ‘white-out’ conditions. Despite being injured, his rescue efforts were commended by the AOC in C. In 1983, he was posted to 230 Sqn (Pumas), RAF Gutersloh where his experience frequently led him to be the lead engineer on a significant number of detachments across Europe.
Promoted in 1986 to Chief Technician, he was posted to 1 AMS (Jaguar), RAF Abingdon. The most notable post held being that of Airframe Research, forming a conduit with aerospace industries. During this period, he was detached to Belize for a 6 month unaccompanied tour in support of 1563 Flight (Pumas). In 1990, he was posted to 19 Sqn (Phantoms) at RAF Wildenrath as the Rectification Controller. This proved a very rewarding period with detachments to Florennes and Decimomannu amongst others. Upon the closure of bases in Germany, further postings to Gutersloh and Laarbruch as an Eng Ops Controller followed. In 1993 he was posted to Puma ASF, RAF Odiham as a Team Chief. His knowledge and experience on type, culminated in his selection to serve with the United Nations at the height of the Bosnian conflict.
Promoted to Flight Sergeant in 1996 and subsequently posted to HMF (Sea Kings), RAF St Mawgan. After a very brief period, he was posted back to RAF Laarbruch as the Quality Audit Co-ordinator (QAC) within a joint Harrier, Chinook, Puma and Logistics environment. Upon the closure of RAF Laarbruch in 1999, he was selected as QAC for RAF Cottesmore, as the base transformed from TTTE to a Harrier Main Operating Base. Due to his well respected audit skills he was invited to assist with the Command External Quality Audits.
Promoted to Warrant Officer in 2001, he remained at Cottesmore and took up post in Engineering Standards, overseeing self supervision and the introduction of the JAP with additional responsibilities to provide management direction of LITS implementation within Joint Force Harrier. In 2004, he served OOA with Joint Helicopter Force Iraq at Basra (Op TELIC). Employed in a J4 cell, he provided eng support and QA/H&S across a tri-service rotary wing environment. This experience reinvigorated his desire to serve as a front-line Sqn WO. Biding his time as a Lean Facilitator, he fulfilled his ambition in 2005 when WO IV (AC) Sqn (Harrier) became vacant. Having guided the Sqn through multi-skilling, Royal Naval migration and detachments to Cyprus, USA and HMS Illustrious, he concludes his tenure having completed 5 operational tours on Op HERRICK in Afghanistan.
Warrant Officer Wilcox has been married for 30 years to Sheena, a Career Guidance Resettlement Consultant for HM Forces personnel. They have a daughter Freya who is commencing her A Level studies. He is an active Mess supporter, having been CMC twice and maintains his fitness through hashing and walking activities.