Allegiance United Kingdom Rank Group captain | Battles/wars Op HERRICK Service/branch Royal Air Force Name Ro Atherton | |
Battles and wars Operation Herrick Commands held A4 FHQ
RAF Wittering | ||
Group Captain Rowena Atherton is a serving Royal Air Force (RAF) officer.
With a logistics background, Atherton joined the RAF aged 17 in 1979 and completed training at RAF Henlow.
She was the first female Station Commander at RAF Wittering and was charged with the radical reorganisation of the Royal Air Force's logistics organisation. This included the relocation of the majority of RAF Air Combat Support Units (ACSUs) to the station and the creation of the A4 Force Headquarters.
Atherton raised a national controversy when she banned RAF Wittering personnel from wearing uniform while off duty. This was in response to reports that personnel from the station were receiving abuse due to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Atherton deployed to Afghanistan in July 2008 as Deputy Commander Joint Force Support Headquarters.