With RAF Gibraltar’s former Station Commander, Wing Commander Jim Holland having taken a job within 2 Group at Air Command in High Wycombe, a new Wing Commander was recently welcomed. WC Greg ‘Vasco’ Smith comes to Gibraltar from the UK Joint Delegation at NATO’s Strategic Headquarters in Brussels. Wing Commander Smith joined the RAF in 1990 and following Officer and Flying Training was posted to RAF Bruggen in Germany. In 1997 he was selected for the Qualified Weapons Instructor Course (QWI) at RAF Lossiemouth and on successful completion was posted back to Bruggen as the QWI on 14 Squadron overseeing the Squadrons transition to the Tornado GR4.

He has a diverse background including working on the Saudi Armed Forces Project at the MOD working in plans and requirements responsible for the operational aspects of the Royal Saudi Air Force’s Tornado mid-life upgrade, a tour of Milan at the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps as the British Air Advisor and as a Counter Terrorism (overseas) Operational Team Leader at Permanent Joint Headquarters in the UK.

Commenting on the his new position, WC Smith noted that he is very much looking forward to working and living in Gibraltar, as well as maintaining the RAF footprint. He also looks forward to working with the Government to be able to maximise the potential for the airfield.

Commenting on leaving Gibraltar, for Wing Commander Holland explained, ‘I have been here over two years and I’ve had a fantastic time. We have seen a lot of changes going on at the airfield and my main job while I was here was to implement the Strategic Defence Review Transformation Programme which has meant we have reduced the RAF manpower here down to the new operating model and although we have reduced the number of RAF personnel we have kept the capability through employing local people and contracting out some services.’