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{{Short description|British peer and former RAF officer (born 1949)}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[Marshal of the Royal Air Force]] [[The Right Honourable]]
| name = The Lord Stirrup
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|KG|GCB|AFC|FRAeS|FCMI}}
| image = Official portrait of Lord Stirrup crop 2.jpg
| image_size =
|
| caption = Official portrait, 2020
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1949|12|04}}
| death_date =
| birth_place = [[Paddington]], London
| death_place =
| placeofburial =
| nickname = Jock
| allegiance = United Kingdom
| branch = [[Royal Air Force]]
| serviceyears = 1968–2011
| rank = [[Marshal of the Royal Air Force]]
| servicenumber = 8020760D
| unit =
| commands = [[Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Defence Staff]] (2006–10)<br/>[[Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Air Staff]] (2003–06)<br/>[[No. 1 Group RAF|No. 1 Group]] (1997–98)<br/>[[RAF Marham]] (1990–92)<br/>[[No. 2 Squadron RAF|No. 2 Squadron]] (1985–87)
| battles = [[Dhofar Rebellion|Dhofar War]]<br/>[[Cold War]]<br/>[[Operation Telic]]<br/>[[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|War in Afghanistan]]
| awards = [[Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter]]<br/>[[Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]]<br/>[[Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)|Air Force Cross]]
| relations =
| laterwork =
}}
[[Marshal of the Royal Air Force]] '''Graham Eric Stirrup, Baron Stirrup''' (born 4 December 1949), informally known as '''Jock Stirrup''', is a former senior [[Royal Air Force]] commander who was the [[Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Defence Staff]] from 2006 until his retirement in late 2010. He is now a [[Crossbencher|Crossbench]] member of the [[House of Lords]]. In April 2013, he was appointed a [[Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter]] by [[Queen Elizabeth II]].
As a junior RAF officer, Stirrup was a jet pilot, and saw action in the [[Dhofar War]]. Later in his career, he commanded [[No. 2 Squadron RAF|No. 2 Squadron]] and [[RAF Marham]]. After several senior air force appointments, Stirrup was made the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of [[RAF Strike Command|Strike Command]] and during this time he served as the first commander of [[Operation Veritas|British forces engaged in fighting the Taliban]]. In 2002, Stirrup was appointed the Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff responsible for equipment and capability and was heavily involved in procuring equipment for the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|invasion of Iraq]]. Spending a little over a year in that role, he was then appointed the [[Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Air Staff]], in which capacity he served from 2003 to 2006. He became Chief of the Defence Staff in 2006: during his time in office the British Armed Forces faced significant commitments both to Iraq ([[Operation Telic]]) and Afghanistan ([[Operation Herrick]]). Stirrup retired as Chief of the Defence Staff on 29 October 2010, taking a seat in the House of Lords in 2011.
==Early and personal life==
Graham Eric Stirrup was born on 4 December 1949, the son of William Hamilton Stirrup and his wife, Jacqueline Brenda Stirrup (''née'' Coulson).<ref name=WW>''[[Who's Who (UK)|Who's Who]] 2010'', [[A & C Black]], 2010, {{ISBN|978-1-4081-1414-8}}</ref> He was educated at [[Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood|Merchant Taylors' School]] in [[Northwood, London|Northwood]], [[Hertfordshire]].<ref name=WW/>
Stirrup married Mary Alexandra Elliott in 1976 and they have one son.<ref name="Dods"/> Stirrup includes golf, music, theatre and history among his interests.<ref name=WW/> He is a fellow of the [[Royal Aeronautical Society]],<ref name=WW/> a fellow of the [[Chartered Management Institute]]<ref name=WW/> and a member of the [[Society of Knights of the Round Table]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arthuriansocietyofknights.org/members.html|title=Membership|publisher=Society of Knights of the Round Table|access-date=20 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208055959/http://www.arthuriansocietyofknights.org/members.html|archive-date=8 February 2012}}</ref>
==RAF career==
Stirrup started his military career at the [[RAF College Cranwell]] in [[Lincolnshire]] on 1 April 1968<ref>{{cite AV media |people=Stirrup, Graham Eric |date=27 January 2014 |title=Statement by ACM Lord Graham Eric "Jock" Stirrup |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsBOcRsYDMQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/wsBOcRsYDMQ |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=11 May 2015 |time=4:33 |___location=Museum of Tel Aviv |publisher=Tel Aviv University }}{{cbignore}}</ref> and it was from Cranwell that he received his [[Commissioned officer|commission]] on 31 July 1970.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=45186 |date=4 September 1970 |page=9882 |supp=y }}</ref> He was promoted to [[flying officer]] on 31 July 1971 with seniority backdated to 31 January,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=45438 |date=2 August 1971 |page=8340 |supp=y }}</ref> and to [[flight lieutenant]] from 31 July 1973.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=46046 |date=7 August 1973 |page=9402 |supp=y }}</ref> From 1973 to 1975, Stirrup was on loan service with the [[Royal Air Force of Oman|Sultan of Oman's Air Force]].<ref name="Dods">{{cite book |title=Dod's Civil Service Companion 2009–2010 |editor1-first=Jonathan |editor1-last=Pearson |year=2009 |publisher=Dods |___location=London |isbn=978-0-905702-85-8 |page=159 |url=http://viewer.zmags.com/services/DownloadPDF?publicationID=bc65b83d&selectedPages=all |access-date=20 May 2012}}</ref>
In Oman, Stirrup flew [[BAC Strikemaster]]s during the [[Dhofar Rebellion|Dhofar War]] in the [[close air support]] and [[air interdiction|interdiction]] roles, giving him valuable battle experience of the use of [[air power]] in [[counter-insurgency]] operations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/C403A6C7-E72C-445E-8246-D11002D7A852/0/20091201jdp_40UDCDCIMAPPS.pdf|title=Security & Stabilisation: the military contribution|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=20 May 2012|archive-date=18 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018032318/http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/C403A6C7-E72C-445E-8246-D11002D7A852/0/20091201jdp_40UDCDCIMAPPS.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> After he returned to the United Kingdom in 1975, Stirrup was posted to [[No. 41 Squadron RAF|No. 41 Squadron]] where he flew the [[SEPECAT Jaguar]] in the fighter reconnaissance role.<ref name="Dods"/> Stirrup went on to serve in an exchange tour in the [[United States]] where he flew the all-weather tactical reconnaissance [[F-4 Phantom II|RF-4C Phantom]].<ref name="NATO">{{cite web|url=http://www.nato.int/cps/en/SID-4084B1D8-A915087A/natolive/who_is_who_50457.htm|title=Sir Jock Stirrup|publisher=NATO|access-date=20 May 2012|archive-date=11 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011190750/http://www.nato.int/cps/en/SID-4084B1D8-A915087A/natolive/who_is_who_50457.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:French Jaguar A of EC 1-7 Provence in flight over the Adriatic Sea, 8 April 2003 (DF-SD-05-05511).jpg|thumb|left|[[SEPECAT Jaguar|Jaguar]], a type flown by Stirrup in the 1970s]]
Promoted to [[squadron leader]] on 1 January 1980,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=48100 |date=18 February 1980 |page=2642 |supp=y }}</ref> Stirrup was serving as a flight commander on [[No. 226 Operational Conversion Unit]] which was based at [[RAF Lossiemouth]] in March 1983: his duties centred around the instruction of trainee pilots on the [[SEPECAT Jaguar]] and, on 7 March 1983, Stirrup was carrying out a student progress check from the rear seat of his aircraft when they suffered a serious [[bird strike]].<ref name=bird>{{London Gazette |issue=49413 |date=11 July 1983 |page=9151 |supp=y }}</ref> Stirrup was unable to ascertain whether his student was conscious and forward vision through the canopy was obscured: one of his engines caught fire, and although ejecting from the aircraft would have been justified, not knowing whether the student was conscious or not, Stirrup managed to land at [[RAF Leuchars]].<ref name=bird/> Stirrup was later awarded the [[Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)|Air Force Cross]] in recognition of his handling of the incident.<ref name=bird/>
Stirrup was promoted to [[Wing Commander (rank)|wing commander]] on 1 July 1984.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=49800 |date=9 July 1984 |page=9435 |supp=y }}</ref> In 1985 Stirrup received a command appointment, as the Officer Commanding [[No. 2 Squadron RAF|No. 2 Squadron]] which at that time was operating the Jaguar from [[RAF Laarbruch]] in [[West Germany]]: along with other [[NATO]] air units, his squadron's role was low-level tactical reconnaissance in the face of the [[Soviet]] [[Cold War]] threat.<ref name="NATO"/> Stirrup gained first hand experience of the higher-level workings of the RAF when, in 1987, he was appointed Personal Staff Officer to the [[Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Air Staff]].<ref name="NATO"/>
Having been promoted to [[group captain]] on 1 January 1990,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=52005 |date=2 January 1990 |page=73 }}</ref> from 1990 to 1992, Stirrup served as Station Commander of [[RAF Marham]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Station%20OCs-EAng.htm|title=RAF Station Commanders – East Anglia|publisher=Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation|access-date=20 May 2012}}</ref> and during his time in command, RAF Marham's strike aircraft were dispatched to the Middle East, seeing action in the [[Gulf War air campaign]].<ref name="NATO"/> In 1993 Stirrup attended the [[Royal College of Defence Studies]] (RCDS).<ref name="NATO"/> Stirrup was promoted to [[air commodore]] on 1 January 1994,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=53537 |date=31 December 1993 |page=20689 |supp=y }}</ref> and appointed Director of Air Force Plans and Programmes that year.<ref name="NATO"/> Promoted to [[air vice-marshal]] on 1 July 1997,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=54820 |date=30 June 1997 |page=7559 |supp=y }}</ref> he became [[Air Officer Commanding]] [[No. 1 Group RAF|No. 1 Group]] in April 1997, [[Assistant Chief of the Air Staff]] in August 1998 and, having been promoted to [[air marshal]] on 6 November 2000,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=56020 |date=7 November 2000 |page=12489 |supp=y }}</ref> he was made Deputy [[Commander-in-Chief]] [[RAF Strike Command]] that year.<ref name="NATO"/> His appointment at Strike Command also entailed taking on the additional roles of being the Commander of NATO's [[Combined Air Operations Center|Combined Air Operations Centre 9]] (based at High Wycombe) and serving as the Director of the [[European Air Group]].<ref name="NATO"/>
From September 2001 to January 2002, Stirrup was UK National Contingent Commander for [[Operation Veritas]] (British operations against the [[Taliban]]) in [[Afghanistan]], his first direct experience of front-line operations overseas since 1987.<ref name="NATO"/> In this role Stirrup directed the British contribution to the US-led [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] and he was the Senior British Military Advisor to General [[Tommy Franks]], the Commander-in-Chief of [[United States Central Command]].<ref name="top Afghan war job">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1741813.stm |title=SAS chief takes top Afghan war job|publisher=BBC|date=4 January 2002|access-date=20 May 2012}}</ref> At [[MacDill Air Force Base]], Stirrup headed the 60 strong British team who were contributing to the US-led operational planning.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schmitt |first=Eric |date=30 November 2001 |title=Many Eager to Help, but Few Are Chosen |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/30/international/asia/30ALLI.html |newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=25 May 2016 }}</ref> Stirrup was replaced by Lieutenant General [[Cedric Delves]].<ref name="top Afghan war job"/>
[[File:Lt Gen William Fraser greets Air Chf Mshl Sir Jock Stirrup.jpeg|thumb|right|Stirrup (left) with [[William M. Fraser III|General Fraser]] in 2005.]]
In April 2002 Stirrup was appointed [[Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff|Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Equipment Capability)]], a post he held until May 2003.<ref name="Dods"/> His main task was production of equipment plans for the Army, Air Force and Navy while ensuring that the plans could be afforded over the coming years. The planning for the [[invasion of Iraq]] required new equipment and Stirrup became increasingly involved in planning for urgent operational requirements. A particular difficulty faced by Stirrup was the need to place equipment orders with industry before the Government was prepared to publicly commit to the action. Stirrup briefed ministers on this point but was prevented from placing the orders according to his desired timescale. In the end some critical items such as [[body armour]], boots and desert clothing were not available to all the personnel who needed them when they deployed.<ref name="Iraq enquiry">{{cite web|url=http://www.iraqinquiry.org.uk/media/45320/20100201am-stirrup-final.pdf |title=Evidence by Sir Jock Stirrup to the Iraq Inquiry|publisher=Iraq Inquiry|date=1 February 2010|access-date=20 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/feb/01/iraq-inquiry-body-armour |title=Troops sent to Iraq without sufficient body armour, Chilcot inquiry told|work=The Guardian|date=1 February 2010|access-date=20 May 2012|___location=London|first=Sam|last=Jones}}</ref>
Stirrup was promoted to [[air chief marshal]]<ref name="5August2003">{{London Gazette |issue=57018 |date=5 August 2003 |page=9733 |supp=y }}</ref> and appointed [[Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Air Staff]] on 1 August 2003.<ref name="NATO"/> In July 2004 Stirrup set out his strategic direction for the RAF which was based upon working to achieve an increasingly modern and multi-role aircraft fleet, reducing the number of [[RAF station]]s by creating fewer but larger and better-equipped bases and reducing the number of personnel while maintaining or improving their training.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mod.uk/issues/security/cm6269/cas.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105060022/http://www.mod.uk/issues/security/cm6269/cas.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 November 2012 |title=Delivering Security in a Changing World |date=21 July 2004 |access-date=20 May 2012}}</ref>
==Chief of the Defence Staff==
Stirrup was appointed [[Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Defence Staff]] – just when the British Armed Forces were facing significant commitments both to Iraq ([[Operation Telic]]) and Afghanistan ([[Operation Herrick]]) – on 28 April 2006.<ref name="NATO"/>
===Operations in Iraq===
[[File:Peter Pace and Jock Stirrup at the British Ministry of Defence.jpg|thumb|right|Stirrup with US General [[Peter Pace]] in 2006.]]
In May 2006, shortly after becoming CDS, Stirrup visited Iraq to assess the situation first hand. The British responsibility was in the south of Iraq and on his return Stirrup reported to the [[Secretary of State for Defence|Defence Secretary]] that [[Basra]] was the key to success in southern Iraq. Stirrup identified two obstacles to success, the first being the militias and the second being the need for an acceptable level of Iraqi governance. In addition, he took the view that [[Iran]]ian interference was a significant exacerbating factor. Noting that neither of two obstacles could be fully dealt with by the British Armed Forces, Stirrup viewed the solution as being essentially political.<ref name="Iraq enquiry"/>
In order to take action against the militias, the local British commander in South East Iraq developed a plan to conduct aggressive operations against them. At the same time Stirrup became increasingly concerned that strong political leadership from the Iraqis was lacking and that without this any gains made by the military actions against the militias would be to no avail. In July 2006, Stirrup overturned the previous military advice to the Defence Secretary by stating that force levels in [[Multi-National Division (South-East) (Iraq)|South East Iraq]] would need to be maintained. Previously it had been thought that they could be reduced from over 7,000 to between 3,000 and 4,000. In September 2006, the Iraqi Prime Minister, [[Nouri al-Maliki]], blocked the British plan to act against the militias which Stirrup believed was because of Maliki's dependence on [[Sadrist Movement|Sadrist]] support at that stage.<ref name="Iraq enquiry"/>
The original British plan was replaced by [[Operation Sinbad]] which was acceptable to the Iraqis and was executed from September 2006 to February 2007. Along with other Coalition commanders, Stirrup viewed Sinbad as insufficient because it did not involve directly attacking the militias. Believing that it would not deliver the level of improvements in security that the British wanted, Stirrup began looking at the high risk strategy of withdrawing British troops from inside Basra which would have left the Iraqis in the position of either having to deal with the security problems themselves or losing control of Iraq's second city.<ref name="Iraq enquiry"/>
Following the end of Operation Sinbad, the military situation for the British in Basra worsened and the British base at [[Siege of Basra (2007)|Basra Palace was repeatedly attacked]]. However, by summer 2007, Maliki's political position no longer depended on Sadrist support and [[Muqtada al-Sadr]] had publicly criticized Maliki. In July 2007 Maliki replaced his Basra security co-ordinator and during one of his visits to Iraq, Stirrup met the new Basra security coordinator, [[Mohan al-Furayji|General Mohan]]. Mohan wanted the British forces to withdraw from Basra and Stirrup stressed that once British forces had departed, Mohan's Iraqi forces would have to deal with security. Both Mohan and Stirrup were clear that retaining British forces outside Basra would be an insurance policy against a deteriorating situation within Basra as well as give Mohan something additional with which he could threaten the militias. Stirrup was concerned that a redeployment would look as though the British had been "bombed out of Basra" but judged that this was preferable to the significant damage to British military reputation were security in Basra to completely break down.<ref name="Iraq enquiry"/> Much of the British redeployment took place in August and despite Stirrup making public statements to the effect that the withdrawal was part of the overall plan, some commentators judged that the British had been defeated in southern Iraq.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uruknet.de/?p=m35740 |title=Instructions to troops in Basra: keep fingers crossed|publisher=Time|date=28 August 2007|access-date=20 May 2012}}</ref> By early September all British troops had been withdrawn from Basra city to [[Basra International Airport|the airport]] to perform what was dubbed an "overwatch" role.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dotandcalm.com/calm-archive/index/t-22989.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708144955/http://dotandcalm.com/calm-archive/index/t-22989.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 July 2012 |title=The 'proxy war': UK troops are sent to Iranian border |work=The Independent|date=12 September 2007 }}</ref>
After British troops had been withdrawn from Basra city, violence continued and General Mohan took some time to produce a plan for improving security. Notwithstanding the difficulties, the [[Basra Governorate]] was handed over to [[Provincial Iraqi Control]] in December 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7135666.stm |title=Iraq to be given control of Basra|date=9 December 2007|publisher=BBC|access-date=20 May 2012}}</ref> By early March 2008, General Mohan had produced a security plan with British support which was presented to [[David Petraeus|General Petraeus]] and Prime Minister Maliki in [[Baghdad]]. The plan called for a six-week period of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration starting in June 2008 before forcibly disarming the [[Mahdi Army]] and other non-Government/Coalition forces afterwards. Later in March Stirrup was in Baghdad and he met with General Petraeus and [[Lloyd Austin|General Austin]], the commander of the [[Multi-National Corps – Iraq]]. Stirrup strongly backed Mohan's plan but noted that Mohan would need to be pressed hard to deliver and also supported with Corps forces. Austin was reluctant to provide support, wishing to focus on [[Mosul]], but Petraeus agreed with Stirrup. However, this plan was overtaken by Maliki's decision to launch [[Operation Charge of the Knights]]. Both Stirrup and the American commanders were taken by surprise and were concerned about the lack of planning but Maliki was determined to launch his operation in late March.<ref name="Iraq enquiry"/>
[[File:British Chief of the Defense Staff, visits Multi-National Division-South DVIDS163632.jpg|thumb|Stirrup in Basra with Major General [[Michael L. Oates]] in March 2009.]]
Operation Charge of the Knights led to the Battle of Basra which lasted from 25 to 31 March. Although the lack of planning resulted in some confusion, the Coalition did support the Iraqi action with land and air assets. By the end of March the Iraqi Government forces had negotiated a ceasefire with Muqtada al-Sadr. With the militias melting away, Iraqi Government forces were able to claim control of Basra. While recognizing that Operation Charge of the Knights had been far from perfect, Stirrup judged it to be a success as the Iraqis were taking responsibility for their own security.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rusi.org/events/ref:E4905F2EFC2531/info:public/infoID:E49341B0484026/ |title=Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup's Speech 2009|publisher=RUSI|date=1 December 2008|access-date=20 May 2012}}</ref>
After the conclusion of Operation Charge of the Knights the British were involved in helping to rebuild those Iraq Army units which had suffered from poor cohesion, or even dissolved. In hindsight, Stirrup took the view that the British forces would have been usefully employed in mentoring the Iraq Army to greater extent earlier in the campaign.<ref name="Iraq enquiry"/> In late April 2009, most British military operations in Iraq came to an end; and by 28 July 2009 all British forces had left Iraq and were all redeployed to Kuwait.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8172893.stm |title=UK troops in Iraq moved to Kuwait|date=28 July 2009|publisher=BBC|access-date=20 May 2012}}</ref>
===Operations in Afghanistan===
[[File:Stirrup in Istanbul.jpg|thumb|right|Stirrup at an [[ISAF Regional Command South]] meeting in Istanbul, Turkey.]]
After his appointment as CDS, Stirrup travelled to [[Helmand Province]] in May 2006. At that stage, the British effort consisted of a small tented base at [[Camp Bastion]], an operating base at [[Lashkar Gah]] and several isolated platoon houses in the north of Helmand. Much of the rest of the Province was not under British or other [[International Security Assistance Force|ISAF]] control. At that time the insurgency was starting to gain strength and although by 2009 the British Armed Forces and the [[United States Marine Corps]] had greatly expanded their role and were providing security for over 50% of Helmand, speaking in 2009 Stirrup conceded that in some areas security had worsened. While, highlighting the inadequate force levels provided by NATO and the competing demands on Coalition political and military resources that Iraq had posed until 2008, Stirrup believed that by 2009 NATO forces were successfully taking the fight to the insurgents, driving them out of towns and villages and thereby allowing governance to improve which would lead to the defeat of the insurgency.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rusi.org/events/past/ref:E4B184DB05C4E3/ |title=Annual Chief of the Defence Staff Lecture|publisher=RUSI|date= 3 December 2009|access-date=20 May 2012}}</ref>
Speaking generally on operations in Afghanistan, Stirrup has noted that whilst "the military is a key, an essential element in dealing with those problems, but by and large these problems can only be resolved politically" and that he favoured a pragmatic approach to dealing with former members of the [[Taliban]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1567309/Stirrup-No-military-solution-in-Afghanistan.html|title=Stirrup: 'No military solution in Afghanistan'|work=The Telegraph|date=25 October 2007|access-date=20 May 2012|___location=London|first=Richard|last=Holt}}</ref> By December 2009, Stirrup was expressing his concern about falling levels of public support for the war in Afghanistan which he believed risked undermining the British effort. In particular Stirrup called for a spirit of resolution and stated that the mission was achievable, noting that the British Armed Forces had finally now got a properly resourced plan to achieve the strategic aim.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Afghanistan-Sir-Jock-Stirrup-Warns-Over-Falling-Public-Support-For-Afghan-War/Article/200912115490449?f=rss |title=Loss of Support 'More Damaging Than Taliban'|date=3 December 2009|publisher=Sky News|access-date=20 May 2012}}</ref>
===Extended term of office and retirement===
On 14 July 2010, the Defence Secretary Liam Fox announced that General [[David Richards (British Army officer)|Sir David Richards]], the then [[Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the General Staff]], would succeed Stirrup as Chief of the Defence Staff in October 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/7890288/General-Sir-David-Richards-to-be-Chief-of-Defence-Staff.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100718101305/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/7890288/General-Sir-David-Richards-to-be-Chief-of-Defence-Staff.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 July 2010 |title=General Sir David Richards to be Chief of Defence Staff|work=The Telegraph|date=14 July 2010|access-date=20 May 2012|___location=London}}</ref> Richards took over on 29 October 2010 and Stirrup was created a [[life peer]] as '''Baron Stirrup''', of [[Marylebone]] in the [[City of Westminster]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=59688 |date=2 February 2011 |page=1745 |supp=y }}</ref> He was [[Introduction (House of Lords)|introduced]] into the [[House of Lords]] on 1 February 2011, where he sits as a [[crossbencher]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2010/10/sir-jock-stirrup-announcement|title= New Lords member announced|publisher= UK Parliament|date=27 October 2010|access-date=20 May 2012}}</ref> Stirrup officially retired from the RAF on 4 April 2011.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=59803 |date=7 June 2011 |page=10706 |supp=y }}</ref> The following month Stirrup gave detailed evidence to the Commons [[Defence Select Committee]] on the UK's recent [[Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010|Strategic Defence and Security Review]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hxO8VAYGaXEC&q=lord+stirrup&pg=RA1-PA59|title=The Strategic Defence and Security Review and the National Security Strategy|date=3 August 2011|publisher=The Stationery Office |isbn=9780215561138|access-date=5 May 2016}}</ref>
In April 2013, Stirrup was appointed [[Order of the Garter|Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter]] by the [[Queen Elizabeth II]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/10011474/Former-head-of-the-Armed-Forces-becomes-a-Knight-of-the-Garter.html|title=Former head of the Armed Forces becomes a Knight of the Garter|work=The Telegraph|access-date=9 May 2013|___location=London|date=22 April 2013|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/update/2013-04-23/queens-high-honour-for-former-norfolk-airman/|title=Queen's high honour for former Norfolk airman|publisher=ITV|access-date=9 May 2013}}</ref> He was appointed as an honorary [[Marshal of the Royal Air Force]] in the Queen's [[2014 Birthday Honours]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/2014-birthday-honours-for-service-personnel-and-defence-civilians|title=2014 Birthday Honours for service personnel and defence civilians|date=13 June 2014|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=22 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=60914 |date=25 June 2014 |page=12558 }}</ref>
==Activities as a peer==
[[File:Lord Stirrup speaks as House of Lords debates situation in Ukraine (51902242282).jpg|thumb|Stirrup speaking in a House of Lords debate.]]
[[File:King's speech 2023 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Stirrup (right) holding the [[Sword of State]] at the [[2023 State Opening of Parliament]]]]
In 2013 Stirrup, along with Field Marshal [[Charles Guthrie, Baron Guthrie of Craigiebank|Lord Guthrie]] and Admiral of the Fleet [[Michael Boyce, Baron Boyce|Lord Boyce]], called upon the British Government to derogate from the [[European Convention on Human Rights]] for the duration of deployed operations. They were concerned that the increased risk of prosecution faced by commanders would lead to a generation of risk-averse military leaders.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dominiczak |first=Peter |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/10391270/Defence-chiefs-War-no-time-to-worry-about-rights-laws.html |title=Defence chiefs: War no time to worry about rights laws |work=The Telegraph|date=2013-10-19 |access-date=2016-10-25}}</ref> In August 2014, Stirrup was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to ''[[The Guardian]]'' opposing [[Scottish independence]] in the run-up to September's [[2014 Scottish independence referendum|referendum on that issue]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/aug/07/celebrities-open-letter-scotland-independence-full-text|title=Celebrities' open letter to Scotland – full text and list of signatories|website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date=7 August 2014|access-date=25 August 2014}}</ref> In June 2015 Stirrup joined the House of Lords' EU External Affairs Sub-Committee.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-stirrup/4233/register-of-interests |title=Lord Stirrup |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=www.parliament.uk |publisher=Parliamentary Digital Service |access-date=10 October 2016}}</ref> From October 2015 Stirrup has been the president of the [[Pilgrims Society]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pilgrimsociety.org/index.php |title=The Pilgrims |website=www.pilgrimsociety.org |publisher=The Pilgrims of Great Britain |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031145014/http://www.pilgrimsociety.org/ |archive-date=31 October 2015 |access-date=12 October 2016}}</ref>
On [[Remembrance Sunday]] 2014, it was announced that Stirrup would lead the efforts to raise one million pounds to enable a national memorial to the British service personnel who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan to be erected in central London.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-29975355 |title=Afghan and Iraq war memorial plan announced |work=BBC News |date=9 November 2014 |access-date=29 August 2016}}</ref> By March 2015 Stirrup was confident that the full amount needed could be raised<ref>{{cite web |url=http://forces.tv/93872670 |title=Fundraising Call for Memorial to Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans |date=24 March 2015 |access-date=29 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911092256/http://forces.tv/93872670 |archive-date=11 September 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and by July 2016 work had begun on the memorial in the [[Victoria Embankment Gardens]]. The [[Iraq and Afghanistan Memorial]] was unveiled in March 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-39202897 |title=Iraq and Afghanistan wars memorial unveiled - BBC News |work=BBC News |date=9 March 2017 |access-date=2019-12-21}}</ref>
In July 2016, Stirrup gave an interview to [[Sky News]] in which he accused Russia of running a "gangster regime" and a "gangster foreign policy" in regard to their [[Russian military intervention in Ukraine (2014–present)|ongoing Ukrainian intervention]]. Noting that the Kremlin viewed NATO as weak, Stirrup called for the West to develop a long-term strategy to counter Russia's actions. In particular Stirrup urged that NATO countries spend more on defence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.sky.com/story/ex-army-head-uk-should-consider-arming-ukraine-10370475 |title=Ex-Army Head: UK Should Consider Arming Ukraine |date=4 July 2016 |access-date=29 August 2016}}</ref>
Stirrup carried the [[Sword of State]] in the procession for the 2019 State opening of Parliament.<ref>{{cite web |last=Stevenson |first=Alex |url=https://www.politics.co.uk/comment-analysis/2012/05/09/queen-s-speech-sketch-lords-didn-t-bat-an-eyelid-as-her-maj |title=Queen's Speech sketch: Lords didn't bat an eyelid as Her Maj announced their demise |publisher=Politics.co.uk |date=2012-05-09 |access-date=2019-12-21 |archive-date=25 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125115158/https://www.politics.co.uk/comment-analysis/2012/05/09/queen-s-speech-sketch-lords-didn-t-bat-an-eyelid-as-her-maj |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Honorary appointments==
Stirrup has held the following honorary appointments:
*Honorary Colonel 73 Engineer Regiment (Volunteers) (1 April 2002 – 1 June 2008)<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=56614 |date=25 June 2002 |page=7575 |supp=y }}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=58780 |date=29 July 2008 |page=11418 |supp=y }}</ref>
*[[Doctor of Science]] from [[Cranfield University]]<ref name=WW/>
*[[Air Aide-de-Camp]] to Her Majesty The Queen<ref name="5August2003"/>
==Honours and awards==
Source:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1550468137/photo/london-united-kingdom-marshal-of-the-royal-air-force-lord-jock-stirrup-attends-a-service-of.jpg?s=612x612&w=gi&k=20&c=acVx4B4qODlzVzVUlPaPlKeuFTC53WH4qyXD-4CKxac=|title=Photo of Jock Stirrup}}</ref>
<div class= "center">
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[[File:RAF pilot brevet (Queen's Crown).jpg|200px]]
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[[File:Order of the Bath UK ribbon.svg|100px]]
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[[File:UK AFC ribbon.svg|100px]]
[[File:UK Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg|100px]]
[[File:QEII Diamond Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg|100px]]
[[File:UK Queen EII Platinum Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg|100px]]
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[[File:Ribbon - Royal Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.png|100px]]
[[File:General Service Medal (Oman).png|100px]]
[[File:Endurance Medal (Al-Sumood) (Oman).png|100px]]
[[File:US Legion of Merit Commander ribbon.png|100px]]
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<br />
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:silver;" align="center"
|Ribbon || Description || Notes
|-
|[[File:Order of the Garter UK ribbon.svg|40px]]||[[Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter]]|| Appointed in 2013;<ref>{{cite web|title=Press Release: New appointment to the Order of the Garter, 23/04/2013 |url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/LatestNewsandDiary/Pressreleases/2013/NewappointmenttotheOrderoftheGarter.aspx |work=Royal.gov.uk: The Official Website to the British Monarchy |access-date=23 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620193043/http://www.royal.gov.uk/LatestNewsandDiary/Pressreleases/2013/NewappointmenttotheOrderoftheGarter.aspx |archive-date=20 June 2013 }}</ref> ribbon not worn in undress
|-
|[[File:Order of the Bath UK ribbon.svg|40px]]||[[Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]]|| Appointed in 2005<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=57665 |date=11 June 2005 |page=2 |supp=y }}</ref>
|-
|[[File:UK AFC ribbon.svg|40px]]||[[Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)|Air Force Cross]]||Awarded in 1983<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=49413 |date=11 July 1983 |page=9151 |supp=y}}</ref>
|-
|[[File:UK Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg|40px]]||[[Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal]]||
|-
|[[File:QEII Diamond Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg|40px]]||[[Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal]]||
|-
|[[File:UK Queen EII Platinum Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg|40px]]||[[Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal]]||
|-
|[[File:Ribbon - Royal Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.png|40px]]||[[Royal Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal]]|| With 3 Bars
|-
|[[File:General Service Medal (Oman).png|40px]]||General Service Medal (Oman)<ref name=jdp>{{cite web|url=http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/C403A6C7-E72C-445E-8246-D11002D7A852/0/20091201jdp_40UDCDCIMAPPS.pdf|title=Security and Stabilisation: The Military Contribution Joint Doctrine Publication 3-40|access-date=17 March 2023|archive-date=18 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018032318/http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/C403A6C7-E72C-445E-8246-D11002D7A852/0/20091201jdp_40UDCDCIMAPPS.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>||
|-
|[[File:Endurance Medal (Al-Sumood) (Oman).png|40px]]||Endurance Medal (Al-Sumood)<ref name=jdp/>||
|-
|[[File:US Legion of Merit Commander ribbon.png|40px]]||[[Commander of the Legion of Merit]]
|-
|}
</div>
==Arms==
{{Infobox COA wide
|image = File:Coat of Arms of Jock, Baron Stirrup.svg
|imagesize = 250px
|bannerimage = Garter Banner of the Baron Stirrup.svg
|badgeimage =
|notes = Knight Companion of the [[Order of the Garter]] since 2013.<ref>''The Companion Magazine''. College of St George. No. 19 (Summer-Autumn 2014), p. 12</ref>
|adopted =
|coronet = [[Coronet|Coronet of a Baron]]
|crest = A [[peregrine falcon]] Or, holding in the dexter claw a winged stirrup Azure.
|torse = Mantling Or and Azure.
|helm =
|escutcheon = Azure a bend Or between two stirrups Argent winged Or.
|supporters = On either side a Peregrine Falcon supporting with the interior foot a [[Caduceus]] erect Or.
|motto ='''HONOR PRAEMIUM VIRTUTIS''' ''(Honour is the reward of virtue'')
|orders =The [[Order of the Garter]] circlet.<br />The collar as Grand Cross Knight of the [[Order of the Bath]] ''(Appointed CB 2000, KCB 2002 & GCB 2005)''<br />[[Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)|Air Force Cross]]
|other_elements =
|banner = The banner of the Baron's arms used as Knight Companion of the Garter depicted at [[St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle|St George's Chapel]].
|badge =
|symbolism =
|previous_versions =
}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Jock Stirrup}}
*[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22257870 BBC – Lord Stirrup made Knight of the Garter]
*[http://www.defensenews.com/conferences/dubai1203/2457284.html Defense News – Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100914214021/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/People/ChiefsofStaff/ChiefOfTheDefenceStaff.htm Ministry of Defence – Chief of the Defence Staff - Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130616101608/http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/search/results/18948/Graham%20Eric%20(Jock)%20STIRRUP.aspx Debrett's – Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup]
*[https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-stirrup/4233 UK Parliament - Lord Stirrup]
{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=F J Hoare}}
{{s-ttl|title=Officer Commanding [[No. 2 Squadron RAF|No. 2 Squadron]] | years=1985–1987}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Philip Sturley]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=D F A Henderson}}
{{s-ttl|title=Station Commander [[RAF Marham]] | years=1990–1992}}
{{s-aft|after=N R Irving}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[John Day (RAF officer)|John Day]]|rows=2}}
{{s-ttl|title=Director of Air Force Plans and Programmes | years=1994–1997}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Steven Nicholl]]}}
|-
{{s-ttl|title=[[Air Officer Commanding]] [[No. 1 Group RAF|No. 1 Group]] | years=1997–1998}}
{{s-aft|after=J H Thompson}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Timothy Jenner]]|rows=2}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Assistant Chief of the Air Staff]] | years=1998–2000}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Philip Sturley]]}}
|-
{{s-ttl|title=Deputy Commander-in-Chief [[RAF Strike Command|Strike Command]] | years=2000–2002}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Brian Burridge|Sir Brian Burridge]]}}
|-
{{s-new}}
{{s-ttl|title=UK National Contingent Commander for [[Operation Veritas]]<br /><small>Also Senior British Military Advisor to [[United States Central Command|US CENTCOM]]</small> | years=2001–2002}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Cedric Delves]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Jeremy Blackham|Sir Jeremy Blackham]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff|Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Equipment Capability)]]| years=2002–2003}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Robert Fulton (Royal Marines officer)|Robert Fulton]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Peter Squire|Sir Peter Squire]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Air Staff]] | years=2003–2006}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Glenn Torpy|Sir Glenn Torpy]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Michael Walker, Baron Walker of Aldringham|Sir Michael Walker]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Defence Staff]] | years=2006–2010}}
{{s-aft|after=[[David Richards, Baron Richards of Herstmonceux|Sir David Richards]]}}
|-
{{s-hon}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Richard Johns|Sir Richard Johns]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Honorary Colonel of 73 Engineer Regiment (Volunteers)|years=1 April 2002 – 29 July 2008}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Glenn Torpy|Sir Glenn Torpy]]}}
{{s-prec|uk}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Baron Grade of Yarmouth|The Lord Grade of Yarmouth]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom|Gentlemen]]'''<br />''Baron Stirrup'' '''}}
{{s-fol|after=[[Baron Glendonbrook|The Lord Glendonbrook]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{Chiefs of Defence Staff}}
{{Chief of the Air Staff}}
{{Members of the Order of the Garter}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stirrup, Jock}}
[[Category:Marshals of the Royal Air Force]]
[[Category:Chiefs of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)]]
[[Category:Knights of the Garter]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Aeronautical Society]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Royal Air Force College Cranwell]]
[[Category:British military personnel of the Dhofar War]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force personnel of the Iraq War]]
[[Category:Crossbench life peers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:Military personnel from the London Borough of Hillingdon]]
[[Category:Military personnel from the City of Westminster]]
[[Category:People educated at Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood]]
[[Category:People from Northwood, London]]
[[Category:People from Paddington]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Royal College of Defence Studies]]
[[Category:Chiefs of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)]]
[[Category:Life peers created by Elizabeth II]]
[[Category:20th-century Royal Air Force personnel]]
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