Clare Walton

Air Marshal
Clare Walton
CB CStJ
Air Vice-Marshal Walton in 2022
Born (1964-11-20) 20 November 1964 (age 61)
Military career
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Branch
Royal Air Force
Service years
1987–present
Rank
Air Marshal
CommandsDefence Medical Group
Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre Headley Court
Conflicts
United Nations Protection Force
Iraq War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Venerable Order of St John

Air Marshal Clare Samantha Walton, CB, CStJ (born 20 November 1964) is a British retired senior Royal Air Force officer and physician. From July 2023 to July 2026, she served as Director General Defence Medical Services, later restyled as Chief of Defence Medical.

Early life

Walton was born on 20 November 1964 in Stockport, Cheshire, England. She was educated at Westcliff High School for Girls, a grammar school in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. She studied medicine at St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical School, graduating with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree and then Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MB BS) degrees in 1989.

RAF career

Walton was commissioned into the Medical Branch of the Royal Air Force (RAF) on 27 March 1987 as a pilot officer: she was being sponsored through her degree by a University Cadetship with the RAF. After training at Royal Air Force College Cranwell, she was promoted to squadron leader on 1 August 1990. She transferred from a short service commission to a permanent commission on 24 April 1992. She has served a number of posting abroad, the first of which was with the United Nations Protection Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Having returned, she completed the Diploma in Aviation Medicine (DAvMed) in 1996. She served as a senior medical officer in Kuwait as part of Operation Desert Fox. In 2002, she was posted to Iraq as part of Operation Telic, where she had overall responsibility for organising aeromedical evacuation. From 2006 to 2008, she was senior medical officer at RAF Leeming.

From 2011 to 2014, Walton served as commanding officer of Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre Headley Court. She was deputy head of the RAF Medical Services from 2014 to 2016, before being appointed Air Officer Medical Operations in No. 38 Group RAF on 13 June 2016. She was then Commander of the Defence Medical Group from 2018 to 2020.

From February 2020, she was Director Defence Medical Personnel & Training, based at Defence Medical Services Whittington. In October 2022 it was announced that Walton would succeed as Director General of the Defence Medical Services from July 2023. She was promoted to Air Marshal and took up the position on 3 July 2023. In May 2026, the appointment was restyled from Director General Defence Medical Services to Chief of Defence Medical. She stepped down in July 2026 upon her retirement and was succeed as Chief of Defence Medical by Phil Carter in an interim capacity.

Personal life

In 2003, Walton married Mark Hopkins. He is a fellow RAF officer, who rose to the rank of air commodore. Through this marriage, she has two step children.

Honours

Walton was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2022 New Year Honours. In 2025, she was appointed Commander to the Venerable Order of St John (CStJ).

In 2024, she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Health Sciences degree by Anglia Ruskin University.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Walton, Air Vice-Marshal Clare Samantha, ( born 20 Nov. 1964), Director Medical Personnel and Training, Defence Medical Services, since 2020". Who's Who 2026. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2025. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U294608. ISBN 978-0-19-954088-4. Retrieved 2 August 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: periodical has ISBN (link)
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Welcome message from Air Vice Marshal Clare Walton" (doc). files.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk. 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  3. ↑ "No. 50934". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 June 1987. p. 7079.
  4. ↑ "No. 52301". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 October 1990. p. 16116.
  5. ↑ "No. 52989". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 July 1992. p. 11828.
  6. 1 2 3 "Air Marshal Clare S Walton CB KHP". aru.ac.uk. Anglia Ruskin University. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  7. 1 2 "Air Marshal Clare Walton CB KHP". Deployed Medical and Healthcare Delivery. defenceiq. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "A royal opening for new Headley Court rehabilitation complex". GOV.UK. Ministry of Defence. 19 September 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  9. ↑ "No. 61636". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 July 2016. p. 14549.
  10. ↑ "Senior Appointments". Royal Air Force. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  11. ↑ "Latest civil service & public affairs moves – October 24". Civil Service World. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  12. ↑ "No. 64150". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 August 2023. p. 16787.
  13. ↑ "HQ Defence Medical Services becomes Defence Medical Command". GOV.UK. Cyber & Specialist Operations Command. 20 May 2026. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  14. ↑ "Major General Phil Carter to become interim Chief Defence Medical". GOV.UK. Cyber & Specialist Operations Command. 16 July 2026. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "Chief of Defence Medical: Air Marshal Clare Walton CB KHP". GOV.UK. 2026. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  16. ↑ "No. 63571". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 2022. p. N3.
  17. ↑ "No. 497943223". The London Gazette. 23 September 2025.