Dai Whittingham joined the RAF as a pilot in 1974. He flew Phantoms in the Air Defence fighter role and served as a flying instructor on the Jet Provost. He has commanded an E-3D AWACS squadron and the main operating base of RAF Waddington.
A graduate of the Royal College of Defence Studies, he deployed in 2004 as the Air Component Commander for all UK flying operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, prior to taking up a MOD operational management appointment. MOD duties included policy for air safety, UK and European airspace, ATM aircraft equipment and uavs; he also chaired the Military Aviation Regulatory Group. He has held responsibility for operational management and oversight of all RAF airborne surveillance platforms and the RAF Search and Rescue Force. His last formal military appointment was as Deputy Commander, NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force.
Dai joined the UKFSC as Chief Executive in February 2012, where he works with a wide range of industry partners to improve commercial aviation safety.
Currently Chairman of the national Laser Working Group and the Honourable Company of Air Pilots Technical Committee, he is also a member of the raes Flight Operations Group and several industry forums in the UK and Europe.