The largest Royal Air Force station by area in the world is welcoming a new commander.
Wing Commander Andrew Tidmarsh has returned to his home county of Cumbria to take command of Royal Air Force Spadeadam, the UK’s only electronic warfare training and trials unit.
Born and educated in Kendal, Wing Commander Tidmarsh graduated from Durham University and was commissioned into the Royal Air Force in 2004. Tidmarsh came to Spadeadam from the Ministry of Defence’s Overseas Crisis Team and has previously held the post of UK National Representative, where he was responsible for tactical command of UK air defence, including the air counter-terrorism mission. He has served at a variety of units all over the UK and on numerous operational tours overseas.
Wing Commander Tidmarsh said: “I am deeply honoured to take command of RAF Spadeadam, which fulfils a unique and vital role for defence. I have arrived at a crucial time in the station’s history, as we all face the challenge of an increasingly uncertain world in an era of constant global competition.
“Electronic warfare plays an ever more important part in warfighting across all the domains and I look forward to leading the delivery of our capability in the present, whilst developing for the future.”
His predecessor, Wing Commander Matt Lawrence, who had returned to Royal Air Force Spadeadam for a second short tour, and has now moved on to pastures new said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to command RAF Spadeadam for a second time and to assist the first-class team here in delivering operationally essential training, whilst also providing personnel to support the Government’s pandemic response across the UK.
“I would like to thank Carlisle City Council and our neighbours locally for all the ongoing support for the RAF and for the station; without that support, we would not be able to do our job. With all the turbulence in the world today, RAF Spadeadam’s crest motto has never been more apt; Si vis pacem, para bellum – if you seek peace, prepare for war.”
