Air Vice-Marshal Maria Byford, is a senior retired Royal Air Force officer who served as Chief of Staff Personnel and Air Secretary from February 2020 to July 2023.
Maria Byford | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1991–2023 |
| Rank | Air Vice Marshal |
| Commands held | RAF Medical Services Medical Joint Force Support |
| Battles/wars | War in Afghanistan |
RAF career
Byford studied dentistry at King's College London, graduating with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree in 1991.[1] That year, she joined the Royal Air Force (RAF).[2] After a career in dentistry, she became Head of the Personnel Division at HQ Surgeon-General in 2011.[2] Following deployment as commander of Medical Joint Force Support in Afghanistan in 2014, she became Head of Future Healthcare at HQ Surgeon-General in 2015 and Head of RAF Medical Services in 2019.[3][4] She was appointed Honorary Dental Surgeon to the Queen (QHDS) in 2015.[2]
In February 2020 Byford was appointed Air Secretary with effect from 24 February 2020.[5] She retired from the service in July 2023.[6]