Douglas Riding

Who is Douglas Riding?

Air Marshal Douglas John Stuart Riding AO, DFC is a retired senior Royal Australian Air Force commander and a former Vice Chief of the Defence Force.

Riding was born in the Sydney suburb of Burwood, New South Wales, on 6 May 1943. Following a secondary education at Manly Boys High School, he joined the Royal Australian Air Force in June 1962 as an aircrew cadet, and graduated as a pilot the following year. He was posted for operational service during the Vietnam War for a tour from April–December 1969 with the United States Air Force's 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron. As a result of his "gallant services in Vietnam", Riding was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Riding was Officer Commanding RAAF Base East Sale from 1987 to 1990. During the 1990s, Riding held senior positions in the RAAF; and in July 1998 he was appointed Vice Chief of the Defence Force. He retired from the RAAF in the summer of 2000 as the end of his term as Vice Chief. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2000.