- Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)
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This article is about the ADF appointment Chief of the Defence Force. For the current CDF, see David Hurley
Chief of the
Australian Defence ForceStyle General Term length Three years (renewable) Inaugural holder Lieutenant General
Sir Henry WellsChief 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 HoustonRank and
pre-nominalName post-nominal(s) Service Term began Term ended Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee Lieutenant General Sir Henry Wells KBE, CB, DSO Army 23 March 1958 22 March 1959 Vice Admiral Sir Roy Dowling KBE, CB, DSO Navy 23 March 1959 27 May 1961 Air Chief Marshal Sir Frederick Scherger KBE, CB, DSO, AFC Air Force 28 May 1961 18 May 1966 General Sir John Wilton KBE, CB, DSO Army 19 May 1966 22 November 1970 Admiral Sir Victor Smith AC, KBE, CB, DSC Navy 23 November 1970 23 November 1975 General Frank Hassett AC, CB, CBE, DSO, LVO Army 24 November 1975 8 February 1976 Chief of Defence Force Staff General Sir Frank Hassett AC, KBE, CB, DSO, LVO Army 9 February 1976 20 April 1977 General Sir Arthur MacDonald KBE, CB Army 21 April 1977 20 April 1979 Admiral Sir Anthony Synnot KBE, AO Navy 21 April 1979 20 April 1982 Air Chief Marshal Sir Neville McNamara KBE, AO, AFC, AE Air Force 21 April 1982 12 April 1984 General Sir Phillip Bennett AC, KBE, DSO Army 13 April 1984 25 October 1984 Chief of the Defence Force General Sir Phillip Bennett AC, KBE, DSO Army 26 October 1984 12 April 1987 General Peter Gration AC, OBE Army 13 April 1987 16 April 1993 Admiral Alan Beaumont AC Navy 17 April 1993 6 July 1995 General John Baker AC, DSM Army 7 July 1995 3 July 1998 Admiral Chris Barrie AC Navy 4 July 1998 3 July 2002 General Peter Cosgrove AC, MC Army 4 July 2002 3 July 2005 Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston AC, AFC Air Force 4 July 2005 4 July 2011 General David Hurley AC, DSC Army 4 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
- ^ Chief of the Defence Force: Roles & Responsibilities. Retrieved on 29 March 2008.
- ^ Chief of the Defence Force: The Diarchy. Retrieved on 29 March 2008.
- ^ Chief of the Defence Force: Previous Chiefs. Retrieved on 29 March 2008.
- ^ Rowell, Full Circle, p. 178
- ^ Horner, "Evolution of Australian Higher Command Arrangements".
- ^ Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston retained in defence shake-up. Retrieved on 29 March 2008.
- ^ New Chiefs for the Australian Defence Force. Retrieved on 1 June 2011.
References
- Australian Government. "Department of Defence". Commonwealth of Australia. http://www.defence.gov.au/index.htm.
- Horner, David (2002). "The Evolution of Australian Higher Command Arrangements". Command Papers (Centre for Defence Leadership Studies, Australian Defence College). http://www.defence.gov.au/adc/cdclms/Command%20evolution.doc.
Leadership of the Australian Defence Force Chief of the Defence Force (CDF)Vice Chief of the Defence Force (VCDF) • Chief, Capability Development Group (CCDG) • Chief of Joint Operations (CJOPS)Commander Australian Fleet (COMAUSFLT) • Commander Forces Command (CFC) • Air Commander Australia (ACAUST)Categories:- Military of Australia
- Australian generals
- Royal Australian Navy admirals
- Royal Australian Air Force air marshals
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