Air Vice-Marshal Ian Sharrocks joined the Royal Navy in 1994, starting his front-line service in 1997 with 814 NAS as a Sea King anti-submarine pilot. The majority of the tour was spent embarked on the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible and saw several operational deployments to the Arabian Gulf and the Adriatic – including the 1999 Kosovo campaign.

In 2000 Ian was selected for fast jet training and he re-joined the front-line in 2002 with IX(B) Sqn flying the Tornado GR4. The highlight of the tour was flying strike missions during the opening phases of Op TELIC. Ian transferred to the Royal Air Force in 2005 and after completion of the Qualified Weapons Instructor Course was posted to XIII Sqn where he again flew operations over Iraq.

Promoted to Sqn Ldr in 2007, Ian joined the 2* Commander United Kingdom Amphibious Forces HQ as a J5 planner. Exercises in the USA and Norway were followed by a lengthy deployment to Basrah, Iraq. Working for the last UK commander of Multi-National Division (South East), he was heavily involved in planning the security for Iraq’s first free and fair elections and the UK’s redeployment in 2009. Ian then joined 617 Sqn ‘The Dambusters’ and flew further operational missions during two deployments to Kandahar, Afghanistan in support of Op HERRICK and also fired Storm Shadow Cruise Missile into Libya during Op ELLAMY.

Ian was selected for promotion to Wg Cdr in 2012 and completed Advanced Command and Staff Course. After a tour with the Air Staff, he took command of IX(B) Sqn in 2015 and twice deployed on Op SHADER.

After promotion to Gp Capt, he was posted to MOD Security, Policy and Operations Directorate where he was Assistant Head of Targeting. His OF5 command appointment was as Commandant Number 6 Flying Training School.

In 2022 he was promoted to Air Commodore and became Head of Flying Training, responsible for aircrew flying training across Defence and RAF Air Traffic/Weapons Controller training. He became Director of the Joint Services Command and Staff College in 2024. In 2025 he was promoted to Air-Vice Marshal and took command of No 22 Gp.

Married to Jennie, they have two teenage sons and reside in Wiltshire. Ian is a very keen skier, enjoys vintage cars and reading military history.