John Monahan

Air Vice-Marshal John Finbar Monahan (born 1968), known as Fin Monahan, is a British public servant and former senior Royal Air Force officer. After training as a pilot, serving in active squadrons and exchange postings, Monahan was the commandant of the Central Flying School at RAF Cranwell, with the Red Arrows coming under his command. Monahan has trained with several non-UK militaries, and serves as the director of the Air Command Operating Model Programme. Since November 2024, he has been chief fire officer of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

Early life and education Monahan was born in Liverpool, England. He also has master's degrees from both the University of Nottingham and the University of Madras.

RAF career Monahan joined the Royal Air Force in September 1991, after serving with the East Lowlands Universities Air Squadron. On graduation from pilot training, he was posted to No. 4 Squadron flying the Harrier jump jet at RAF Laarbruch in Germany, during which he flew missions over Bosnia and Kosovo. After Germany, he was posted to RAF Valley in North Wales, and then served in an exchange role with the Royal New Zealand Air Force, flying Skyhawk aircraft from RNZAF Base Ohakea. Whilst serving as a pilot with No. 1 Squadron in Afghanistan, Monahan was called upon to run a mission at very short notice in support of Australian special forces. He went on the mission alone and was later awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross.

In 2007, Monahan took command of Cambridge University Air Squadron. on returning to the UK, took up a post in charge of operations at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire. Monahan was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2014 New Year Honours.

Between 2016 and 2018, Monahan was the Commandant of the Central Flying School at RAF Cranwell. Monahan was promoted to air commodore in December 2019 as "Head Doctrine (Air, Space and Cyber) in the Development, Concepts and Doctrine Centre" at the Defence Academy at Shrivenham. He was promoted to air vice-marshal on 10 October 2022, on appointment as director of the centre.

Later career In July 2024, it was announced that Monahan would be leaving the RAF having been appointed the next chief fire officer of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. He took up the appointment on 12 November 2024, and formally retired from the RAF in February 2025. He will undertake the Wales Gold Command course, as well as firefighter training.

Monahan is married with three children. In 2021, he was made the patron of a myeloma cancer charity in Lancashire.