Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)

Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)
Chief of the
Australian Defence Force
=
Incumbent
David Hurley

since 4 July 2011
Style General
Term length Three years (renewable)
Inaugural holder Lieutenant General
Sir Henry Wells

Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) is the most senior appointment in the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The CDF commands the ADF under the direction of the Minister of Defence, in a coequal arrangement with the Secretary of Defence, the most senior public servant in the Department of Defence.[1][2]

The position is a fixed-term appointment of three years, and is notionally rotated between the three services (Navy, Army and Air Force). However in practice this has not been the case: of eighteen appointees, ten have been from the Army, five from the Navy and three from the Air Force.[3]

During peacetime, the CDF is the only four-star officer in the ADF (admiral, general, or air chief marshal). He is assisted by the Vice Chief of the Defence Force and the individual service chiefs—Chief of Navy, Chief of Army, and Chief of Air Force—all of whom are three-star officers (vice admiral, lieutenant general, or air marshal).

The CDF is appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of his/her ministers. The appointment is politically neutral, as are all military positions, and not affected by a change of government.

Contents

History

Prior to 1958 there was no CDF or equivalent; a Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) existed but no separate position was established as its senior officer. Instead, the senior service chief served as Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.[4] In March 1958, Lieutenant General Sir Henry Wells was appointed Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, a role independent of and notionally senior to the Army, Navy and Air Force chiefs. However Wells and his successors did not command the Australian armed forces in any legal sense; the Chairman had only an advisory role in the running of the separate services. In February 1976, COSC was dissolved and the new position of Chief of Defence Force Staff (CDFS) was created with command authority over the ADF. In October 1984 the position was renamed Chief of the Defence Force to more clearly reflect the role and its authority.[5]

Appointments

Sir Henry Wells
Sir Roy Dowling
Sir Phillip Bennett
Angus Houston
Rank and
pre-nominal
Name
post-nominal(s)
Service
Term began
Term ended
Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee
Lieutenant General Sir Wells, HenryHenry Wells KBE, CB, DSO Army 01958-03-2323 March 1958 01959-03-2222 March 1959
Vice Admiral Sir Dowling, RoyRoy Dowling KBE, CB, DSO Navy 01959-03-2323 March 1959 01961-05-2727 May 1961
Air Chief Marshal Sir Scherger, FrederickFrederick Scherger KBE, CB, DSO, AFC Air Force 01961-05-2828 May 1961 01966-05-1818 May 1966
General Sir Wilton, JohnJohn Wilton KBE, CB, DSO Army 01966-05-1919 May 1966 01970-11-2222 November 1970
Admiral Sir Smith, VictorVictor Smith AC, KBE, CB, DSC Navy 01970-11-2323 November 1970 01975-11-2323 November 1975
General Hassett, FrankFrank Hassett AC, CB, CBE, DSO, LVO Army 01975-11-2424 November 1975 01976-02-088 February 1976
Chief of Defence Force Staff
General Sir Hassett, FrankFrank Hassett AC, KBE, CB, DSO, LVO Army 01976-02-099 February 1976 01977-04-2020 April 1977
General Sir MacDonald, ArthurArthur MacDonald KBE, CB Army 01977-04-2121 April 1977 01979-04-2020 April 1979
Admiral Sir Synnot, AnthonyAnthony Synnot KBE, AO Navy 01979-04-2121 April 1979 01982-04-2020 April 1982
Air Chief Marshal Sir McNamara, NevilleNeville McNamara KBE, AO, AFC, AE Air Force 01982-04-2121 April 1982 01984-04-1212 April 1984
General Sir Bennett, PhillipPhillip Bennett AC, KBE, DSO Army 01984-04-1313 April 1984 01984-10-2525 October 1984
Chief of the Defence Force
General Sir Bennett, PhillipPhillip Bennett AC, KBE, DSO Army 01984-10-2626 October 1984 01987-04-1212 April 1987
General Gration, PeterPeter Gration AC, OBE Army 01987-04-1313 April 1987 01993-04-1616 April 1993
Admiral Beaumont, AlanAlan Beaumont AC Navy 01993-04-1717 April 1993 01995-07-066 July 1995
General Baker, JohnJohn Baker AC, DSM Army 01995-07-077 July 1995 01998-07-033 July 1998
Admiral Barrie, ChrisChris Barrie AC Navy 01998-07-044 July 1998 02002-07-033 July 2002
General Cosgrove, PeterPeter Cosgrove AC, MC Army 02002-07-044 July 2002 02005-07-033 July 2005
Air Chief Marshal Houston, AngusAngus Houston AC, AFC Air Force 02005-07-044 July 2005 02011-07-044 July 2011
General Hurley, DavidDavid Hurley AC, DSC Army 02011-07-044 July 2011 Incumbent

On 19 March 2008, it was announced that Air Chief Marshal Houston's appointment had been extended to 3 July 2011.[6]

On 1 June 2011, it was announced that Air Chief Marshal Houston's appointment would cease on 3 July 2011. Prime Minister Julia Gillard has recommended to the Governor-General that Lieutenant General David Hurley take over as Chief of the Defence Force effective 4 July 2011.[7]

List of Current and Former living Chiefs of the Defence Force
Rank Name Born
Air Chief Marshal Sir Neville McNamara, KBE, AO, AFC, AE 17 April 1923
General Sir Phillip Bennett, AC, KBE, DSO 27 December 1928
General Peter Gration, AC, OBE 6 January 1932
Admiral Chris Barrie, AC 29 May 1945
General Peter Cosgrove, AC, MC 28 July 1947
Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, AC, AFC 9 June 1947
General David Hurley, AC, DSC 26 August 1953

Notes

  1. ^ Chief of the Defence Force: Roles & Responsibilities. Retrieved on 29 March 2008.
  2. ^ Chief of the Defence Force: The Diarchy. Retrieved on 29 March 2008.
  3. ^ Chief of the Defence Force: Previous Chiefs. Retrieved on 29 March 2008.
  4. ^ Rowell, Full Circle, p. 178
  5. ^ Horner, "Evolution of Australian Higher Command Arrangements".
  6. ^ Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston retained in defence shake-up. Retrieved on 29 March 2008.
  7. ^ New Chiefs for the Australian Defence Force. Retrieved on 1 June 2011.

References


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