Air Vice-Marshal Ross Paterson CB OBE DL BSc PGCE FCIPD RAF (ret’d)
Ross Paterson is to be awarded the University Medal at the first graduation ceremony on Monday 10 June 2024.
Ross Paterson joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1983 and was stationed at RAF Leuchars during the early years of his service. He was active in the development of training and financial initiatives before being promoted to staff rank to serve in the Ministry of Defence in London.
In 2009, Ross was invited to join the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit in the Cabinet Office where he advised on strategic leadership and provided key policy input to the 2010 Defence Review, which was adopted defence-wide by the Services.
Ross retired from Regular Service in 2015 and became the senior RAF representative in Scotland. In addition to supporting national events to encourage young Scots to consider careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), he sought to encourage cooperation between industry and academia to attract investment in Scotland.
Ross was appointed OBE in 2001 for his charity work and mountain rescue service while at RAF Leuchars and was made a CB in 2014 for his work with veterans and Service families worldwide. He was appointed as an Aide de Camps to Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2016 and is a Deputy Lieutenant for Fife. He was made a Freeman of the City of London and an Honorary Distiller in 2023.