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Meet the judge

Meet judge, Air Vice Marshall Simon Edwards 

Air Vice-Marshal Simon Edwards CB MA RAF

Director People and Air Secretary

Air Vice-Marshal Simon Edwards joined the Royal Air Force in 1990 through a Sixth Form Scholarship. He served as an Air Transport pilot on the C-130K Hercules and C-17A Globemaster, later instructing on the Shorts Tucano. His command roles included leading the RAF’s C-17 Squadron, 904 Expeditionary Air Wing in Afghanistan, and RAF Brize Norton. He earned his parachutist’s wings in 2016 and completed various staff roles within the MOD and Air Command.

After graduating from the Royal College of Defence Studies in 2017, Simon worked in the Cabinet Office before overseeing major defence programmes at Air Command, including the A400M and UK Military Flying Training System. Promoted to Air Vice-Marshal in 2021, he has since served as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Strategy) and currently holds the role of Director People and Air Secretary.

Simon is married with two adult sons and enjoys DIY and maintaining his riverboat.