Officer Commanding BBMF Squadron Leader Mark Sugden
Sqn Ldr Mark “ Suggs ” Sugden joined the RAF in 2001 having completed Elementary Flying Training on the University of London Air Squadron . On completion of flying training , he was posted to the Tornado F3 on 43 ( F ) Sqn at RAF Leuchars . During his time on 43 ( F ) Sqn he participated in multi-national exercises across Europe , the Middle East and the US as well as conducting QRA in the UK and the Falkland Islands .
In 2007 , he was posted to 19 Sqn at RAF Valley on instructional duties , where he became a Hawk T1 A2 Instructor . Then in 2010 he was posted to become part of the initial cadre of pilots at RAF Valley to stand up the new Hawk T2 , writing courseware , validating syllabus content and ultimately training the new Instructors prior to the first students arriving on the now newly formed 4 Sqn .
In 2013 he was posted to the Typhoon and to XI ( F ) Sqn at RAF Coningsby . In 2015 he was promoted to Sqn Ldr and remained on XI ( F ) Sqn as a Flt Cdr . During his time on the XI ( F ) Sqn he participated in Exercises around the world and most recently completed an Operational Tour in support of Operation SHADER flying combat missions over Syria and Iraq as part of the US-led coalition against DAESH .
In 2017 Suggs joined the BBMF as a volunteer . Before taking over as Officer Commanding BBMF in October 2021 , he instructed pilots on the Typhoon at 29 Sqn .
Suggs lives with his partner Debbie and enjoys clay pigeon shooting and golf . 2025 will be his eighth season with the BBMF , before handing over the reigns as OC BBMF to Squadron Leader Paul Wise in October 2025 .