Red Arrows Make History with First Woman Leader
Wing Cdr Sasha Nash becomes the first woman to lead the Red Arrows, inspiring future aviators while commanding 150 RAF and civilian personnel.
Wing Commander Sasha Nash, who has replaced Wing Commander Adam Collins as the most senior officer in the Royal Air Force aerobatic team, described it as "the opportunity of a lifetime."
Nash said she was "immensely proud" and hoped she would "inspire future generations of aviators from all backgrounds."
In 2023, the team faced criticism when an investigation revealed that predatory behavior towards women within the team was "widespread and commonplace."
Nash, a former Tornado pilot who has flown in Afghanistan, will command 150 RAF and civilian personnel at the team's headquarters at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, and will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of operations.
She said: "This is a huge career opportunity in my life."
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"If someone had told me 20 years ago that, one day, I would be the Officer Commanding of the Red Arrows, I don't think I would have believed them."
Speaking about her passion for aviation, she said it all began when she was a child. “I was a little six-year-old girl when I decided I wanted to join the Royal Air Force and fly fast jets – inspired by air shows and seeing the speed and excitement of the aircraft at those events.
“That ambition stayed with me throughout school, where I received a Sixth Form scholarship and later a university bursary to join the RAF.”
Nash, who has previously worked with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, and has played lacrosse for England at both junior and senior levels, paid tribute to her predecessor.
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“I’ve worked with Adam over the last few years and have seen firsthand his total dedication to both the team and the RAF.”
Collins, whose career included leading the team during its 60th-anniversary season, as well as a five-week tour of Canada, wished his successor well.
He said: “I am confident that, under her leadership, the Red Arrows will continue to showcase our formula of precision, excellence and teamwork around the world.”
Speaking in 2024, Collins said the team had moved on from the harassment allegations, and at the time said it was his job to “make people feel included, valued and respected”.
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