ALAN DYER-PERRY joined the Royal Air Force following a brief period in civilian life working for the Meteorological Office and Shell-Mex and BP. He trained as a navigator and went on to serve on a variety of flying units in the fast jet world. He has 4,000 flying hours and has flown operationally the Canberra B(I)8, the Buccaneer S Mk 2B, the F-111A with the United States Air Force, and the Tornado GR1 with both the RAF and the German Air Force. He accomplished a variety of command tours both in the UK and overseas, notably in the Middle East. Later Staff tours included appointments at HQ Strike Command where he represented RAF interests in the establishment of a new NATO Reaction Force Air Staff. Finally, he completed his career as the Senior RAF Liaison Officer with United States Air Force HQ Third Air Force.