Board of Trustees, Executive Committee and Staff

Patron
The Late Queen

President
Air Vice Marshal Tamara Jennings OBE MA LLB(Hons)

Life Vice Presidents
Air Marshal Sir Christopher Coville KCB BA FCIPD FRAeS RAF Ret’d
Air Marshal Sir Michael Simmons KCB AFC RAF Ret’d
Air Commodore K Minton BSc (Econ) FIMgt RAF Ret’d
Group Captain G W Gibson CBE RAF Ret’d
Group Captain A White MBE RAF Ret'd
Wing Commander B C Atkinson OBE RAF Ret’d
Wing Commander R N Williams RAF Ret’d
Group Captain P Thorogood RAF Ret'd
Squadron Leader D McDermott RAF Ret'd
Air Commodore M Doel OBE MA BEd FRAeS RAF Ret'd
Group Captain M C Neville CBE BSc RAF Ret'd
Warrant Officer J Duff MBE RAF Ret'd

Vice Presidents
Air Marshal S Atha CB DSO MABSC RAF
Air Marshal J Young CB OBE BSc MA MSc CEng FIET FRAeS HonFAPM RAF

Honorary Life Vice President
G Dyke

Board of Trustees

Chair
Group Captain Jon Smith
Assistant Head Support Operations
MOD Abbey Wood
Bristol
Jon.Smith476@mod.gov.uk

CEO
Group Captain John Hetherington
Deputy Head Space Support
RAF High Wycombe
John.Hetherington286@mod.gov.uk

Finance Director / FA Councillor
Squadron Leader Joan Ochuodho
CAS Air Staff International 1
MOD Main Building
Whitehall
Joan.Ochuodho150@mod.gov.uk

Director of Strategy
Air Commodore Nick Knight
Deputy Air Officer Commanding No. 2 Group
RAF High Wycombe
Nicholas.Knight929@mod.gov.uk

Director of Operations
Group Captain Phillip Reid
DIO Customer Support Team (Deputy Head for AIR & USVF)
RAF High Wycombe
Phillip.Reid120@mod.gov.uk

HR Director
Wing Commander Rachel Portlock
DIO Customer Support Team
RAF High Wycombe
Rachel.Portlock529@mod.gov.uk

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Director
Wing Commander Louise Hancock
c/o RAF FA HQ
Louise.Hancock906@mod.gov.uk

Director of Football
Squadron Leader Martin Wilkinson
SO2 Air Support Eng AwPol
RAF High Wycombe
Martin.Wilkinson162@mod.gov.uk

Senior INED (Charity Sector)
Clare Morley
c/o RAF FA HQ

INED (Industry)
Christine Philippou
c/o RAF FA HQ

INED (Sports)
Mark Gaitskell
c/o RAF FA HQ

Executive Committee

RAF FA Chief of Staff
Wing Commander Jim Sheldon
SO1 A5 Ops and Plans
RAF High Wycombe
Jim.Sheldon922@mod.gov.uk

Head of Finance
Flight Lieutenant Lucy Sharman-Davies
SO2 Costing Cell
RAF High Wycombe
Lucy Sharman-Davies100@mod.gov.uk

Head of Sponsorship
Squadron Leader James West
UK Joint Forces Air Component
RAF High Wycombe
James.West111@mod.gov.uk

Head of Grassroots
Wing Commander Gavin Anderson
OC XXIV Sqn
RAF Brize Norton
Gavin.Anderson898@mod.gov.uk

Head of Discipline
Warrant Officer Steve Francis
JTDT
RAF Cosford
Steve.Francis@royalairforcefa.com

Head of Referees
Squadron Leader Lee Hodgkinson
SO2 A3 Operations Attack
RAF High Wycombe
Lee.Hodgkinson965@mod.gov.uk

Head of Representative Teams
Squadron Leader Scott Hyndman
Personal Staff Officer to Air Officer Commanding Number 22 Group
RAF High Wycombe
Scott.Hyndman687@mod.gov.uk

Head of Communications
Squadron Leader Mark Smales
B M Ops
RAF Boulmer
Mark.Smales425@mod.gov.uk

County (Company) Secretary
Vince Williams
RAF FA HQ
RAF Brize Norton
Vince.Williams@royalairforcefa.com
Tel 07946 572015

Football Development Manager
Alex Pratt
RAF FA HQ
RAF Brize Norton
Alex.Pratt2@royalairforcefa.com
Tel 07496 855309

County Secretary

Vince Williams

Vince Williams

County (Company) Secretary

Vince Williams took up the position of Football Liaison Officer with the RAF FA in October 2006 and became County Secretary in May 2008. Vince also took up the reigns of UK Armed Forces Secretary in July 2011. Vince previously spent 16 years at Farnborough Town Football Club and has built up a large network of contacts within the football industry.
During his time at Farnborough Town Football Club Vince held a number of roles including Football Secretary and General Manager, picked up the club's Chairman's Trophy on three occasions and has sat on disciplinary panels for the Football Conference.

The Non-League Paper voted Vince 'Unsung Hero' in 2004 and also 'Administrator of the Year' in 2007.

Vince's role with the RAF FA includes overseeing and responsibility of company compliance and administrative support across all RAF football areas. Sits on the FAs National Serious Case Panel.
Married with two children and supports Watford.

Email: vince.williams@royalairforcefa.com

fOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Alex Pratt

Alex Pratt

Football Development Manager

Alex joined the RAF FA in January 2024, from Berks & Bucks FA where he was Football Development Officer for 2 years. Alex has been involved in football from a young age, where he started his playing journey. He is also a coach, a role he has held for 10 years, and a Club Secretary, which he has held for 8 years. Alex also works as a Goalkeeper Coach in his spare time and is a Goalkeeper himself.

Alex received the ‘Rising Star of the Year’ award at the local Grassroots Football Awards in 2021, and holds a First-Class Honours Degree in Football Development & Coaching.

Alex’s role includes managing football development across the RAF, including playing, coaching, and refereeing opportunities, alongside implementing The FA’s technology and minimum standards. He is also responsible for safeguarding across the organisation as Designated Safeguarding Officer.

Email: Alex.Pratt2@royalairforcefa.com

Football Development assistant

Sheila Haining

Football Development Assistant

Sheila Haining completed the team at RAF FA HQ when she became Football Development Assistant in November 2006.
Has previously been involved in setting up and running soccer schools at RAF Akrotiri (Cyprus) with her husband Mark who is the Association's County Coach Developer.

Sheila's role involves administration support to all aspects of football development within the RAF including circulating details of courses, arranging accomodation and maintaining the Association's databases.

Email: Sheila.Haining711@mod.gov.uk