Serving as the newly appointed Station Commander at Royal Air Force (RAF) Wittering, Wing Commander Joan Ochuodho is in charge of an operating base that employs 1,400 personnel and is populated by expert units fulfilling critical flight-training roles.

Suffice it to say that in the three months since she assumed this leadership role, Ochuodho and the station have been very busy.

Located on the A1(M) north-south arterial road between London and Edinburgh, RAF Wittering is a logistics hub enabling UK air power, with specialist engineering, ground transport, catering and other units supporting a significant expeditionary warfare capability. Historically home to bombers and more recently Harriers, the station is ideally suited to host visiting aircraft while also delivering flying training.

“I arrived as the base was preparing for a key role in Exercise Agile Warrior 26, which tested how the RAF protects the UK in a contested environment,” Ochuodho explains to Runway Girl Network.

“Wittering hosted Typhoon, A400M and RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft, providing hands-on training in dispersed, resilient and agile air operations, including fuel handling, ground support, command and control, and rapid response procedures.”

Ochuodho joined the RAF in 2003, as a Personnel Administrator. In her first posting she was responsible for the administration of personnel preparing for and returning from operational deployments — important work, but far removed from the responsibilities of her current post.

Her rise to Wing Commander has been inspiring and unconventional.

Born in Kenya to a family with no military connections, Ochuodho came to the UK at the age of 19 to pursue a degree in economics and environmental sciences. A recruiting poster at a London Underground station, ironically for the Royal Navy, sparked within her the idea that here might be a career she should consider. Then unable to swim, she rejected the Royal Navy but saw an opportunity to travel the world with the RAF.

Tours in Iraq, the Falkland Islands and Nigeria have met Ochuodho’s travel ambitions. Meanwhile, encouraged by her superiors and keen to take on greater responsibility and leadership positions, she applied to become a Commissioned Officer.

“It was an important step in my career progression. I also embraced opportunities for post-graduate study, generously sponsored by the RAF,” she reveals.

“Attending King’s College London to study international relations was among the most significant of these experiences, combining with subsequent roles to shape my approach to leadership and broaden my understanding of global affairs within the military context.”

How does Ochuodho’s scholastic experience translate into commanding a base of such varied capability as Wittering? Ochuodho responds: “Leading a storied and respected base is a testament to the support and mentorship I’ve received throughout my journey.

“The role of Station Commander is fundamentally centered on people. I work closely with the heads of the resident units, and external partners, including local communities. I also need to remain well-versed in the various domains I’m accountable for and find great satisfaction in working closely with people every day while navigating the dynamic environment that comes with leading the station.”

Ochuodho is not Wittering’s first female commander. Women are increasingly taking senior RAF leadership positions, but she stands out nonetheless and fully appreciates the opportunity she has to inspire future generations.

“Representation matters — when young people see role models who look like them and have similar backgrounds, it broadens their horizons and helps them envision possibilities they might not have considered otherwise. As a woman of color in a senior RAF role, I am deeply aware of the responsibility and opportunity to serve as a role model and advocate for continued progress,” she says.

Still early into her tenure at Wittering, Ochuodho says: “My primary focus now is maintaining and enhancing the station’s operational readiness. My guiding principles — respect for others, humility, discipline, and a strong work ethic — shape my interactions with everyone on station.

“Ultimately, my goal is to lead with integrity and empathy, adapting to evolving challenges while preserving the strong sense of community and purpose that defines RAF Wittering.”

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Featured image credited to Cpl Connor Tierney, RAF/@UK MoD Crown Copyright 2026