One of the most senior ranking women to have served in the British military
As the former Director General of the Defence Safety Authority and former Director of Combat Air at the Ministry of Defence, Dame Sue Gray is one of the most senior women to have served in the British military.
After initially signing on for regular officer training with the Royal Air Force, Sue used her RAF bursary to study physics and electronics - which led to her first posting as an engineering officer on the VC10 aircrafts. From here, she took on a variety of roles, including the management of Taranis with BAE Systems.
Her experience was not just limited to engineering, with Sue also taking diverse excursions on the Clothing Projects Team and as Head of Media at RAF headquarters.
She gained national and industry attention for her speech at the Royal Air Force’s centenary celebrations in 2018, where she reflected on her 33 years of service and highlighted the role of women in aviation.
In 2019, Sue was promoted to Air Marshal, becoming Britain’s first-ever three-star female officer – and the most senior female officer in the British Armed Forces at the time.
In recognition of her services to the British military, Sue was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2022 New Year Honours. She was elected Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2018 and continues to promote military engineering careers for young people, particularly young women.
Dame Sue Gray CB DBE FREng