Squadron Leader Gordon Parry has been recognised for his long service and dedication to air-to-air refuelling by the multi-national Aerial Refuelling Systems Advisory Group. During the 2023 Aerial Refuelling Systems Advisory Group conference, he received the Exceptional Service to Aerial Refuelling Award.
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The Aerial Refuelling Systems Advisory Group is a joint military-industry professional organisation formed to provide a single inter-service and international agency to advise on Air-to-Air refuelling system matters. The Aerial Refuelling Systems Advisory Group is comprised of twenty nations’ military and industry representatives, including the Royal Air Force, US Air Force, US Navy, US Marine Corps, Allies and NATO to promote the safety of joint military operations and air-to-air refuelling systems.
On receiving the award, Gordon said:
“It is a tremendous honour to receive this award, particularly when looking around the room at the very high level of expertise within the Aerial Refuelling Systems Advisory Group community. Indeed, although the Panel has selected my name for the award, I very much see it as an award for all the team members whom I have worked with over the years including military, government staffs, and industry.”
Squadron Leader Gordon Parry
Exceptional Service to Aerial Refuelling Award
Gordon joined the Royal Air Force in 1980 and, after completing flying training, he served for five years on the Nimrod MR2 in the maritime patrol role at RAF Kinloss. In 1991, he moved to RAF Brize Norton to fly the VC10 in the Strategic Air Transport and Air-to-Air Refuelling roles. He conducted multiple air-to-air refuelling deployments associated with both Iraq and Afghanistan operations and finished his active flying career in 2004 as the air-to-air refuelling instructor and Officer Commanding Standards and Evaluation at RAF Brize Norton. In 2004, he joined the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft Project Team working with Air Tanker to bring the Voyager A330 MRTT into service. Recognising the small window of opportunity that was presented by the development of the Voyager A330 MRTT being near coincident with the KC-46 programme, he exploited the unique multi-national and co-operative environment created by Aerial Refuelling Systems Advisory Group to develop a standardised system of signal lights for probe and drogue refuelling. Gordon now works in the Strategic Policy office at the Air Mobility Force Headquarters and is responsible for Voyager and air-to-air refuelling.
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