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Air Commodore Barbra Cooper

Born in Canada, Air Commodore Cooper moved to the UK aged 11 and attended Evesham High School, Worcestershire. She was commissioned in the RAF in 1978 as an air traffic control officer. After a seven-year short service commission she left and gained qualifications in property management but missing Service life she regained her commission in 1987 this time choosing the Administrative Branch.

She had several personnel tours in the UK and in Germany, including a post as staff officer to the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS). From 1998-2000 she commanded the administrative wing of RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire and was appointed as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her work there.

Among other postings she was Deputy Director Service Personnel Policy (Operations and Manning) at the outset of the last Gulf Conflict, which included responsibility for operational welfare policy. She also ran the UK's Prisoner of War Information Bureau, liaising with the International Committee of the Red Cross. In 2003 in support of the operation, she was recognised in the Iraq Operational Honours List as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).

In 2005, she assumed the appointment of Director Royal Air Force Division within the Defence Academy at Shrivenham, Wiltshire. She was selected as a member of the 2007 entry of the Royal College of Defence Studies and completed six months before being promoted to Air Commodore and being posted into the post of Assistant Chief of Staff Manpower & Personnel Capability at HQ Air Command, High Wycombe.

For Air Commodore Cooper this is not her first involvement with the ACO, she has undertaken the role of reviewing officer at a number of Combined Cadet Force biennial inspections over a number of years.

Air Commodore Cooper is also president of the RAF Netball Association and president of the RAF Theatrical Association.