Chris Luck

Air Vice-Marshal Christopher James Luck (born 1965) is a British charity executive and retired Royal Air Force officer. He was Commandant of the Royal Air Force College Cranwell from 2013 to 2016, and Commandant of the Joint Services Command and Staff College from 2017 to 2019. Since 2019, he has been CEO of the Shaw Trust.

Early life and education Luck was born in 1965 in London, England. He graduated from the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, a graduate school of the United States Air Force, with a Master of Arts (MA) degree in 2003 and a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree in 2007.

Military career On 11 October 1984, Luck was commissioned into the General Duties Branch, Royal Air Force, as an acting pilot officer. He then undertook flying training on the Chipmunk and Jet Provost, before training on helicopters. During his early career, he underwent deployments to Northern Ireland and Belize. He was posted to Iraq as part of Operation Granby, the British operation during the 1991 Gulf War.

He was deployed to Bosnia during the Bosnian War as part of the United Nations' force.

As part of the half yearly promotions, he was promoted to squadron leader on 1 July 1996. He then returned to RAF Odiham to become officer commanding of the Puma Operational Conversion Unit Flight, part of No. 27 (Reserve) Squadron. He then attended the United States Air Force Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. He graduated with a Master of Arts in strategic air power. From September to November 2013, he studied at the Royal College of Defence Studies.

Luck has over 5000 military flying hours, of which 4300 hours have been on the Puma. He relinquished the appointment on 9 September 2013, but was appointed once more on 16 December the same year. He was appointed Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts 2012. and became a deputy lieutenant of Northamptonshire in 2023.

Later life Since May 2019, Luck has been chief executive officer of the Shaw Trust, a charity that helps people into education work and independent living.

Personal life Luck is a keen horse rider; he is the President of the RAF Equitation Association, Chairman of UK Armed Forces Equestrianism and Vice Chairman of UK Armed Forces Polo.