RAF Career
French joined the RAF in 1967, and qualified as a helicopter pilot, flying Wessex, Puma and Chinook. Postings included Sharjah, Hong Kong and Germany. He was commanding officer of No.7 Squadron (Chinook) at RAF Odiham, where he was later station commander (1989–1991).
He attended the RAF Staff College and the Royal College of Defence Studies. Staff postings included aide-de-camp to the Chief of the Defence Staff, and Personal Staff Officer to the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Strike Command. He served on the staff of the Central Trials and Tactics Organisation, and was Head of the RAF Presentation Team.
French served as Director of Air Force Staff Duties, and as Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Policy), before being appointed Director-General of Intelligence Collection. He was Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI) from 2000 and it was whilst he was CDI that the controversial September Dossier was drafted which attempted to assess the state of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. In April 2003 he was appointed Commander-in-Chief Personnel and Training Command and Air Member for Personnel. and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RAF Strike Command in 2006.
French was made a CBE in 1991, and a KCB in 2003.
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