Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force

The Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force (WORAF), previously known as the Chief of the Air Staff's Warrant Officer (CASWO), is the senior Royal Air Force (RAF) appointment for a warrant officer (WO), and therefore the most senior non-commissioned appointment in the RAF.^[1] The person holding this military appointment advises the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) on matters concerning airmen and airwomen of the RAF.^[1][2] The post was created in May 1996; 28 years ago (1996-05), as the Chief of the Air Staff's Warrant Officer.^[1][3] The post was re-titled Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force (WORAF) on 1 July 2021; 3 years ago (2021-07-01), and whilst continuing to report directly to the Chief of the Air Staff, the scope of the WORAF was widened to 'work for the entirety of the RAF'.^[4] The current WORAF is WO Murugesvaran 'Subby' Subramaniam, who was appointed in April 2023; 1 year ago (2023-04).^[5][6] As of 2023^[update], including the incumbent, there has been a total of eleven personnel in this appointment.

Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force
WORAF insignia
Incumbent Murugesvaran 'Subby' Subramaniam since April 2023
Ministry of Defence
Style	Warrant Officer
Abbreviation	WORAF
Reports to	Chief of the Air Staff
Appointer	Air Force Board
Term length	Not fixed, typically 2–3 years
Formation	May 1996; 28 years ago (1996-05)
First holder	WO Greg Dutton
Website	Official website

The Royal Navy equivalent is the Warrant Officer to the Royal Navy (WORN, previously Warrant Officer of the Naval Service, WONS),^[7] and in the Royal Marines the Corps Regimental Sergeant Major. The British Army's recent equivalent is the Army Sergeant Major (previously known as Sergeant Major of the Army).^[8]

List of holders

No.	Portrait	Name (born–died)	Term of office			Chief of the Air Staff	Ref.
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
Chief of the Air Staff's Warrant Officer (CASWO)
1		Greg Dutton MBE, BEM	May 1996	January 1998	1 year, 8 months	Sir Michael Graydon Sir Richard Johns
2		Jim Andrews MBE, BEM	January 1998	January 2000	2 years	Sir Richard Johns
3		René Michael Stuart MBE	January 2000	May 2003	3 years, 4 months	Sir Richard Johns Sir Peter Squire
4		Robert 'Bob' Loughlin MBE	May 2003	November 2006	3 years, 6 months	Sir Jock Stirrup Sir Glenn Torpy	[9]
5		Lyndsay Morgan MBE	November 2006	July 2009	2 years, 8 months	Sir Glenn Torpy	[2]
6		Gary Wilcox MBE	July 2009	February 2012	2 years, 7 months	Sir Stephen Dalton	[2][3]
7		Graeme Spark MBE	February 2012	October 2014	2 years, 8 months	Sir Stephen Dalton Sir Andrew Pulford	[10]
8		Clive Martland MBE (born 1968)	October 2014	October 2016	2 years	Sir Andrew Pulford Sir Stephen Hillier	[1]
9		Jon Crossley	October 2016	October 2019	3 years	Sir Stephen Hillier Sir Michael Wigston	[1]
10		Jake Alpert MBE	October 2019	July 2021	1 year, 9 months	Sir Michael Wigston	[1][11]
Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force (WORAF)
10		Jake Alpert MBE	July 2021	April 2023	1 year, 9 months	Sir Michael Wigston	[1][4]
11		Murugesvaran 'Subby' Subramaniam	April 2023	Incumbent	1 year, 7 months	Sir Michael Wigston Sir Richard Knighton	[6][5]

See also

• United Kingdom portal

• Template: RAF Other Ranks — table of all non-commissioned ranks and insignia of the Royal Air Force, including the WORAF
• Warrant Officer of the Air Force — equivalent in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
• Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force — equivalent in the United States Air Force (USAF)
• Sergeant Major of the Air Force — equivalent in the South African Air Force (SAAF)

References

1. "Chief of the Air Staff's Warrant Officer". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force. 2018. Archived from the original on 13 April 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
2. Woods, Lesley, ed. (27 July 2009). "Welsh Warrant Officer steps down from top job". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
3. "RAF Halton hosts the Chief of the Air Staff's conference for Warrant Officers". RAF.MoD.uk. RAF Halton. 2010. Archived from the original on 13 October 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2010. The conference has taken place annually for the last 12 years, since the post of Chief of the Air Staff's Warrant Officer (CASWO) was created.
4. "Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force". RAF-FF.org.uk. Royal Air Force Families Federation. RAF.MoD.uk. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
5. "Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force. 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
6. 1st Lt. Charles Rivezzo (24 January 2023). Readout of STARCOM Senior Leaders' travel to the United Kingdom (JPG) (photograph-description). RAF High Wycombe: United States Air Force. 230125-F-OR751-0003. Retrieved 31 August 2023. Warrant Officer Subby Subramaniam, command warrant officer of U.K. Space Command, ... pose for a photo during a visit to Headquarters, U.K. Space Command at RAF High Wycombe
7. "Warrant Officer in a class of his own". RoyalNavy.MoD.uk. Royal Navy. 24 April 2013. Archived from the original on 27 April 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
8. Jones, Bruce (1 February 2015). "CGS outlines new British Army senior posts amid culling of generals". Janes.com. IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 3 February 2015.
9. "Bob's proud to protect the crown jewels". IpswichStar.co.uk. Ipswich Star, Archant Community Media Ltd. 4 September 2007. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
10. Gray, Mike, ed. (1 June 2013). "Airing issues with the boss" (PDF). Navy News. No. 707. HMS Nelson, Portsmouth: RoyalNavy.MoD.uk, Royal Navy. p. 37. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
11. @ChiefofAirStaff (4 October 2019). "Thank you WO Jon Crossley. A brilliant 3 years as Chief of the Air Staff's Warrant Officer. Welcome WO Jake Alpert" (Tweet) – via Twitter.