He studied geography at the University of Bristol, graduating with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree.
[citation needed] Having joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) on the university graduate scheme,[1] Walker was commissioned as an acting pilot officer on 1 August 1975,[2] He was regraded as a pilot officer on graduation in 1978.
1 Squadron, flying operational missions over Iraq and Bosnia, before becoming Military Assistant to the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, serving the Honourable Nicholas Soames and then Dr John Reid.
[6] Promoted to air vice marshal and appointed Assistant Chief of the Air Staff in October 2003,[14][15] Walker became responsible for the detailed handling of overall RAF policy, relations with NATO and other allies and the change agenda, being closely involved in the Eurofighter Typhoon programme.
[18] In July 2010 he was appointed to co-lead the Joint US/NATO Ballistic Missile Defence Task Force, to develop Operational Concepts.