Air and Space Operations Officer, Group Captain Andy Hampshire returned to Lincolnshire last week, as the new Station Commander for Royal Air Force Coningsby, taking over from Group Captain Paul O’Grady.
Gp Capt Hampshire joined the RAF in August 2002. His early career saw him serve as a Flight Operations Officer at RAF Waddington and complete his first overseas deployment as Air Wing Adjutant in the Falkland Islands. He then specialised in Air Transport.
Following promotion to Squadron Leader in 2012, Andy Hampshire served as a Duty Operations Controller at Permanent Joint Headquarters before taking command of Operations Squadron at RAF College Cranwell in 2015. As a Wing Commander he served at RAF Brize Norton, responsible for tasking all Air Mobility Force Units.
He takes over from Gp Capt Paul O’Grady, who has been selected for the Higher Command and Staff Course at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom in Shrivenham.
Gp Capt O’Grady said: “Commanding RAF Coningsby has been a privilege and an honour. I reflect most on the quality and passion of our whole force team here at Coningsby and could not be more proud of what they have achieved and continue to achieve for UK Air Defence and Global operations. I wish Group Captain Hampshire every success as Station Commander and I know that the Station will go from strength to strength.”
Until taking over as Station Commander at RAF Coningsby, Gp Capt Hampshire’s favourite tour was Officer Commanding Operations Support Wing at RAF Brize Norton. He said: “I loved the operational nature of what the Station delivered and the brilliant people I had the pleasure of working alongside. As well as military operations, we were enabling the delivery of aid, disaster relief, and there’s very little to compare with that.”
The formal handover at RAF Coningsby took place on Wednesday 26th November. Speaking of his new appointment, the new Station Commander said: “I’m a firm believer that when our teams feel valued and motivated, the Station can deliver amazing things! So, my job is all about making sure that Coningsby’s people have got what they need to live, work and thrive; the right equipment, the right accommodation, the right opportunities outside of work, and effective welfare.”
Gp Capt Hampshire concluded: “Gp Capt O’Grady has done a superb job, and by any measure the Station has achieved a great deal during his tenure. The opportunity to command an RAF Station comes only once, and it is a real honour; every week equals one percent of your time in command, so you must make every day count.”
Gp Captain Hampshire is married with two daughters, and in his spare time is a keen carp angler but also enjoys a range of sports and activities.
