Stuart Atha joined BAE Systems in 2020. Following roles in support and training, he is now
responsible for advising the Company on all NATO matters. He is a member of the Air Board
and Chair of PPM Ltd, a wholly owned entity specialising in advanced RF-over-fibre technology.
Alongside his Company responsibilities for NATO, Stuart is also Head of the UK delegation to
the NATO Industrial Advisory Group, NATO’s source of industrial insight and conscience.
Prior to joining BAE Systems, Stuart served in the RAF for 35 years. Following his first tour as
a flying instructor on the Hawk aircraft, he flew the Harrier aircraft from 1990 to 2003, flying
combat missions over Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq. Stuart commanded RAF Coningsby and the
Eurofighter Typhoon Force 2006-2008, overseeing the Typhoon entry to operational service.
During this tour Stuart also had the privilege of displaying Spitfires and Hurricanes of the Battle
of Britain Memorial Flight. In 2009/10 he commanded the UK Air Component operating in the
Gulf and Afghanistan. In 2011 he headed the Ministry of Defence’s Libyan operations team,
reporting directly to the UK National Security Council, following which he commanded No 1
Group, which comprised a diverse array of air and space forces including combat aircraft,
ISTAR assets and the National Air and Space Operations Centre. As the UK Air Defence
Commander, he was responsible for developing and delivering the London Olympics’ Air
Security Plan in 2012.
Stuart’s staff experience includes posts in the RAF Air Warfare Centre and MOD including as
personal staff officer to the Chief of the Air Staff. Between 2014 and 2016 he was deputy
commander of the Permanent Joint Headquarters, responsible for all UK operations abroad and
most notably involving Afghanistan. Stuart’s final tour in uniform was as Deputy Commander of
the RAF, the Air Force Board member responsible for RAF operations 2016-2019, a tour that
was dominated by the counter-ISIS campaign in Iraq/Syria and NATO’s response to a resurgent
Russia.
Stuart is an Honorary Professor at the University of Nottingham, lecturing on contemporary air
power subjects, and Patron of the Jon Egging Trust, a charity that seeks to inspire and develop
young people. He is also privileged to be the RAF Commissioner on the Commonwealth War
Graves Commission and a Director on the Board of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Stuart
lives in Teddington, London with his wife Caroline and has 5 adult children