The Royal Air Force family is rich in diversity and culture, respecting everyone, regardless of their background. It is the first Service to open all roles to women and has the highest percentage of women compared to the other British Armed Forces. It has a number of staff networks offering a range of provisions dependent on individual need.The RAF reflects the eclectic mix of ethnicities and cultures that makes up UK society.
Air Vice-Marshal Suraya Marshall is a fine example of the rich diversity that the RAF is made up of.
Air Vice-Marshal Suraya Marshall - Soaring through the glass ceiling
Air Vice-Marshal Suraya Marshall grew up in York, graduating from the University of Nottingham with a Law degree and becoming a member of East Midlands University Air Squadron before joining the Royal Air Force as a Navigator in 1994.
During 3 tours flying on the Tornado F3, she participated in numerous operational deployments in Iraq, conducted Quick Reaction Alert in defence of the UK and the Falkland Islands, qualified as a Weapons Instructor and deployed on many overseas, multi-national training exercises.
Command appointments include Fast Jet Weapons System Officer Training, Officer Commanding No. 92(R) Squadron in the Air Warfare Centre responsible for operational Tactics & Training, Officer Commanding No. 55(R) Squadron delivering Rear Crew Flying Training, Deputy Commander of the Royal Air Force’s Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance Force and Commandant of the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell. She assumed command of No. 2 Group in October 2021.
In operational command and control, she has worked with coalition partners in the Middle East Combined Air Operations Centre, where she was involved in the design and execution for the second Gulf War in 2003 and then in 2019 as the Director of Coalition Air Operations in Iraq, Syria, the Arabian Gulf, Afghanistan, the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.
Staff appointments include 3 years working in defence procurement, time in the Typhoon Force Headquarters delivering training transformation and defence sales, and 5 years spent working in the joint strategic environment, initially in the Operations Directorate of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and latterly as Military Assistant to the Vice Chief of Defence Staff. A graduate of Advanced Command and Staff Course (2009) and Higher Command and Staff Course (2019), she holds a Masters in Defence Studies.
Suraya is married to Air Vice-Marshal Al Marshall. They have 2 teenage children and in between work and school, the family enjoys spending as much time as possible together, travelling overseas and trying most outdoor activities, especially skiing, hiking, cycling and diving.
Honorary Air Commodore Veronica Moraa Pickering and an RAF delegation will be present at the event
Seema Malhotra is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Feltham and Heston since 2011. A member of Labour and Co-operative, she has served as Shadow Minister for Business and Consumers since 2021 and previously sat on the Opposition front bench as the Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Shadow Minister for Employment and a Shadow Home Office Minister.
