Group Captain Gary Bunkell balanced 35 years of Reserve Service with running his own business as a Chartered Financial Planner. 

He has served as a Flight Commander, Deputy Squadron Commander, RAF Adjudication Officer (AO) and Inspector RAuxAF and Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty The Queen in March 2007. His tenure as Inspector, saw the RAuxAF provide sustained, demand-led support to the regular RAF throughout and the formation of five new units. In 2010, he commanded the parade during which Her Majesty presented the RAuxAF with its second Sovereign’s Colour. As Deputy Inspector (Publicity and Recruiting) RAuxAF, he conceived and implemented the re-branding to RAF Reserves. He stepped down as Inspector in 2015 but retained his commission for a further four years serving as Liaison Officer (Air) for East Anglia RFCA.

In 2022, Gary was appointed Vice Chair (Air) for EARFCA. He remains a member of the Suffolk RFCA forum. 

He is Vice-Chair of the RAuxAF Foundation and treasurer to the King’s Volunteer Reserves Service Medal Association. He holds degrees in history, financial planning and business management, he is a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute and a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society.