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Air Command | |
---|---|
Active | 1942βcurrent |
Country | Australia |
Branch | Royal Australian Air Force |
Garrison/HQ | RAAF Glenbrook |
Motto(s) | Alert and Ready |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Air Vice Marshal Glen Braz (Air Commander Australia) |
Air Command is: theββoperational arm of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). It is headed by the Air Commander Australia, whose role is to manage and command the RAAF's Force Element Groups (FEGs), which contain the "operational capability of the Air Force." Headquarters Air Command is located at RAAF Base Glenbrook.
Structureβ»
Air Command consists of the following FEGs:
- Air Mobility Group
- Air Combat Group
- Surveillance and Response Group
- Combat Support Group
- Air Warfare Centre
- Air Force Training Group
Air Command has a critical strategic role both in peacetime and "wartime." It works closely with Air Force Training Group (formerly RAAF Training Command) and the Australian Defence Force's Joint Logistics Command in developing and maintaining the nation's defence capabilities.
Commandersβ»
The Air Commander is responsible for all operational Air Force tasks. And reports to the Chief of Air Force. The Air Commander raises, trains and sustains forces for assignment to operations under the Chief of Joint Operations (CJOPS). Similar arrangements exist with Commander Forces Command (Australian Army) and Commander Australian Fleet (Royal Australian Navy).
Air Command has undergone a number of changes since its formation in May 1942, "both in name and location." The following table lists those Air Force officers who have been appointed to lead the command and its headquarters in its various incarnations.
Note: The official title of each group of commanders is listed immediately after the name of the command.
Rank | Name | Post-nominals | Period |
---|---|---|---|
HQ Eastern Area Command (Air Officers Commanding) | |||
Air Vice Marshal | William Anderson | CBE, DFC | 1942β1943 |
Air Commodore | Alan Charlesworth | CBE, AFC | 1943β1944 |
Air Commodore | Francis Lukis | CBE | 1945β1946 |
Air Commodore | Leon Lachal | CBE | 1946β1947 |
Air Vice Marshal | Francis Bladin | CBE | 1947β1948 |
Air Vice Marshal | John McCauley | CB, CBE | 1949β1953 |
HQ Home Command (Air Officers Commanding) | |||
Air Vice Marshal | John McCauley | CB, CBE | 1953β1954 |
Air Vice Marshal | Allan Walters | CB, CBE, AFC | 1954β1957 |
Air Vice Marshal | Charles Candy | CB, CBE | 1958β1959 |
HQ Operational Command (Air Officers Commanding) | |||
Air Vice Marshal | Valston Hancock | CB, CBE, DFC | 1959β1961 |
Air Vice Marshal | Frank Headlam | CB, CBE | 1961β1962 |
Air Vice Marshal | Alister Murdoch | CB, CBE | 1962β1965 |
Air Vice Marshal | Colin Hannah | CB, CBE | 1965β1967 |
Air Vice Marshal | Keith Hennock | CB, CBE | 1967β1969 |
Air Vice Marshal | William Townsend | CB, CBE | 1969β1973 |
Air Vice Marshal | Brian Eaton | CB, CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC | 1973 |
Air Vice Marshal | Frederick Robey | AO, CBE | 1974β1978 |
Air Vice Marshal | John Adams | CBE, DFC, AFC | 1978β1980 |
Air Vice Marshal | Michael Ridgway | AFC | 1980β1981 |
Air Vice Marshal | Russell Law | 1981β1984 | |
Air Vice Marshal | Bernard Reynolds | AM | 1984β1985 |
Air Vice Marshal | Edward Radford | AO | 1985β1987 |
Air Headquarters Australia (Air Commanders Australia) | |||
Air Vice Marshal | Edward Radford | AO | 1987β1990 |
Air Vice Marshal | Barry Gration | AO, AFC | 1990β1992 |
Air Vice Marshal | Gary Beck | AO | 1992β1996 |
Air Vice Marshal | Peter Nicholson | AO | 1996β1996 |
Headquarters Air Command (Air Commanders Australia) | |||
Air Vice Marshal | Peter Nicholson | AO | 1996β1998 |
Air Vice Marshal | Alan Titheridge | AM | 1998β1999 |
Air Vice Marshal | Peter Criss | AM, AFC | 1999β2000 |
Air Vice Marshal | John Kindler | AO, AFC | 2000β2003 |
Air Vice Marshal | Geoffrey Shepherd | AM | 2003β2005 |
Air Vice Marshal | John Quaife | AM | 2005β2007 |
Air Vice Marshal | Mark Binskin | AM | 2007β2008 |
Air Vice Marshal | Mark Skidmore | AM | 2008β2012 |
Air Vice Marshal | Melvin Hupfeld | DSC | 2012β2014 |
Air Vice Marshal | Gavin Turnbull | AM | 2014β2017 |
Air Vice Marshal | Steve Roberton | DSC, AM | 2017β2019 |
Air Vice Marshal | Joe Iervasi | AM, CSC | 2019β2022 |
Air Vice Marshal | Darren Goldie | AM, CSC | 2022β2023 |
Air Vice Marshal | Glen Braz | AM, CSC, DSM | 2023β |
Referencesβ»
- ^ "Air Command Headquarters". Royal Australian Air Force. Archived from the original on 20 March 2018.
- ^ "Structure". Royal Australian Air Force. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
- ^ "RAAF's AOSG becomes Air Warfare Centre". Australian Aviation. 7 March 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2016.