Air Marshal Turner was born in 1967 and commissioned into the Royal Air Force in 1985. As Deputy Commander of the Royal Air Force he is responsible for RAF strategy delivery, the workforce, its equipment, training, infrastructure and finance to ensure the Service can deliver air and space power for the nation and project power and influence around the World.
He was educated at Kingswood School in Bath, the RAF Colleges Cranwell and Bracknell, the Indian Staff College, the UK Higher Command and Staff College, the Royal College of Defence Studies and the UK Pinnacle and US Capstone courses. He has studied at Oxford, Exeter, Kings College London, Chennai and the Open Universities earning a Masters in International Relations and Strategic Studies and a first degree in Oceanography and Cosmology.
A helicopter pilot, he has flown 86 types, 5100 flying hours, 1850 hours on 19 operational tours in Northern Ireland, Central America, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Bosnia, Kosovo, India, Albania, Pakistan and Afghanistan. He has commanded 28 (AC) Sqn, RAF Odiham, the UK Merlin and UK Chinook Forces, the Special Forces Aviation Wing, the Puma Force in Kosovo, Merlin Force in Iraq, the Chinook, Apache, Lynx and Sea King Forces in Afghanistan and No 22 Group. Para trained he has completed staff appointments in the UK MoD as the Director of Operations, military planning and media, PJHQ as the head of military planning, Washington as CDS’ Liaison Officer and in brigade, division and corps headquarters.
He is President of No 1827 (Odiham) ATC Squadron, President of UK Armed Forces Rowing, President of RAF Sports Parachuting, President of RAF Polo, Vice President of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, Vice President of RAF Rugby Union, an Upper Freeman of the Honorary Company of Air Pilots, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute, an oarsman in the Upper Thames and a member of the Light Cavalry in Windsor Great Park.
He was appointed as an Officer in the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire as an Officer (OBE) in the 2003 Birthday Honours and promoted to Commander (CBE) in the 2010 Birthday Honours. He was appointed a Companion in the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2019 New Year Honours.
Married to Catherine with 2 sons, Richard (28) and Benedict (25), he lives near Henley-on-Thames, is not responsible for two Jack Russell terriers, enjoys rowing, riding, parachuting, flying, watching rugby, occasionally playing polo and skiing badly.