Organisation
The EAG Steering Group (SG) provides high-level guidance on all matters relating to the EAG; it oversees directly the work of the EAG Staff and provides mutual information and co-ordination between the participating nations. The Director EAG (DEAG) is responsible for reporting formally to the EAG SG when it meets. The EAG SG comprises normally up to 3 members from each nation: the Chief of the Air Staff as Head of Delegation, together with a senior representative of the MOD/CHOD/Air Policy Staff and sometimes a represnetative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Director (D) EAG is also member of the EAG SG. Additional specialist advice may be required from time to time. In times of crisis, the consultations between the participating nations will be in accordance with national procedures. Thus, the composition of the EAG SG may be different in such circumstances. The Deputy Director (DD) EAG, COS EAG and Chairman of EAG Working Group (WG) attend all annual SG meetings. The meeting location is rotated amongst the EAG nations.
The EAG WG comprises up to 4 working level representatives from each nation along with the COS EAG and is chaired by one Air Force Officer with the rank of Colonel or equivalent. Experts may be invited to advise on areas of specific interest. The EAG WG meets a minimum of twice a year. Meeting venues rotate in the same way as EAG SG meetings.
The DEAG is a 3-star or 2-star dual-hated appointment (CV of current DEAG). The DEAG post is normally held by a senior officer of the nations’ Air Combat Command, or equivalent. The DEAG, although head of the permanent staff, remains in his national post.
The DDEAG is a 1-star permanent appointment (CV of current DDEAG). The DDEAG is the most senior ranking officer stationed at the Permanent Staff at the EAG Headquarters in High Wycombe. The DDEAG is subordinate to the DEAG. He is the link between the DEAG and the EAG Staff and represents the DEAG in the implementation of directives and policies.
The COS EAG is a permanent appointment for an officer of the rank of Colonel or equivalent (CV of current COS). The COS EAG directs, co-ordinates and controls the work done by the EAG Staff and handles all tasking of the EAG Staff on behalf of the DEAG and the DDEAG, in accordance with the directives issued by EAG SG and EAG WG on behalf of the EAGSG. He is also responsible for the resource management of manpower, funds, equipment and infrastructure.
In addition to the DDEAG and the COS EAG, the EAG staff consists of 21 officers and 6 non-commissioned officers from the seven EAG Air Forces. The role of the staff is to support the EAG Directorate to develop and implement policies, directives and initiatives aimed to improve the operational capabilities of the EAG air forces. The staff is organised in three functional areas, which are Executive Secretary (Ex Sec), Operations comprising Air Operations Ground (AOG), Air Operations Flying (AOF), Force protection (FP) and Joint Personnel Recovery (JPR), Combat service support comprising Logistics (LOG), Communications and Information Systems (CIS).
