Waterfall served with the RAF for 34 years, retiring as AVM. His time with the RAF included multiple leadership roles including Harrier and Typhoon Force Commander, Air Officer Commanding No1 Group and UK National Air Defence Commander, Deputy Chief of Joint Operations, Permanent Joint Headquarters (UK), as well as serving as a Team Pilot for the Red Arrows. Upon his retirement in 2019, Waterfall turned to advising and mentoring across the leadership, defence and aerospace sectors, working both inside and outside of the Ministry of Defence with the professional mantra of ‘making good better’.