Dawn McCafferty

Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty is a British Royal Air Force officer. She took over as Commandant of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets in August 2012 from Air Commodore Barbara Cooper and will serve until 2020. McCafferty is the only full-time reserve officer to have held the post.

Born in the Rhondda Valley, South Wales, McCafferty left Wales at the age of six with her family and lived in Wigston Magna, near Leicester, and Kettering before joining the RAF.

McCafferty joined the RAF at the age of 19 for a four-year short service commission as an secretarial officer. She retired as a group captain in 2006 having completed 23 years.

McCafferty's career culminated in her appointment as Inspector of Recruiting for the RAF. She had previously commanded the personnel management squadron at RAF Wittering and the administrative wing at RAF Waddington. She completed staff tours in Command Headquarters and in the Ministry of Defence.

After leaving the RAF in 2006, McCafferty set up and ran the Royal Air Force Families Federation from its inception in 2007 until 2012.

McCafferty was appointed Commandant Air Cadets in 2012, initially on a four-year appointment. In 2015, it was confirmed that she would continue in the post until 2020

McCafferty is married to Paul McCafferty, a retired RAF wing commander. They have a daughter and son.