Chief of Air Force

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Air Marshal Sir Richard Williams
Enlarge
Air Marshal Sir Richard Williams
Air Marshal Sir Frederick Scherger
Enlarge
Air Marshal Sir Frederick Scherger
Air Marshal Sir Neville McNamara
Enlarge
Air Marshal Sir Neville McNamara
This article is about the Royal Australian Air Force appointment Chief of Air Force. For information on the current Chief of Air Force, see Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd

The Chief of Air Force (CAF) is the most senior appointment in the Royal Australian Air Force, although subordinate to the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF). The CAF is generally an Air Marshal appointment (3 star), though there has been exceptions in the past. The CAF is appointed by the Prime Minister and is usually a fixed term appointment, after which the member normally retires, unless offered the more senior role of CDF.

Until 1997 the appointment was known as Chief of the Air Staff. AIRMSHL Sir Richard Williams was the first Chief of the Air Staff, and is referred to as the Father of the RAAF. In 1999 RAAF Williams was named after him after merging RAAF Bases Point Cook and Laverton.

ACM Sir Frederick Scherger was appointed as the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee from May 1961 to May 1966. He was the third person to serve in the appointment, after an army member followed by a navy member.

ACM Sir Neville McNamara was the first Air Force member to command all three services as Chief of the Defence Force Staff between 1982-1984.

In 2005, then AIRMSHL Angus Houston was promoted to the Chief of Defence Force. Before Houston was promoted, only 2 of 17 Chiefs of Defence Force (or equivillent) were members of the Air Force (compared to 10 from the Army and 5 from the Navy).

The Chief of Air Force is normally selected from any of the Air Vice Marshal appointments, although history indicates the Air Commander or Vice Chief of Defence Force are the most likely candidates.

[edit] Chief of the Air Staff (October 1922 - February 1997)

  • AIRMSHL Sir Richard Williams KBE CB DSO (Oct 1922 - Dec 1922, Feb 1925 - Dec 1932, Jun 1934 - Feb 1939)
  • AVM Stanley Goble CBE DSO DSC Croix de Guerre (France) (Dec 1922 - Feb 1925, Dec 1932 - Jun 1934, Feb 1939 - Jan 1940)
  • AIRCDRE William Anderson CBE DFC Croix de Guerre (Belgium) (January 1940 - February 1940)
  • ACM Sir Charles Burnett KCB CBE DSO (RAF) (February 1940 - May 1942)
  • AIRMSHL Sir George Jones KBE CB DFC (May 1942 - January 1952)
  • ACM Sir James (Donald) Hardman GBE KCB DFC (RAF) (January 1952 - January 1954)
  • AIRMSHL Sir John McCauley KBE CB (January 1954 - March 1957)
  • ACM Sir Frederick Scherger KBE CB DSO AFC (March 1957 - May 1961)
  • AIRMSHL Sir Valston Hancock KBE CB DFC (May 1961 - May 1965)
  • AIRMSHL Sir Alister Murdoch KBE CB (June 1965 - January 1970)
  • AIRMSHL Sir Colin Hannah KCMG KCVO KBE CB (January 1970 - March 1972)
  • AIRMSHL Sir Charles Read KBE CB DFC AFC (March 1972 - March 1975)
  • AIRMSHL Sir James Rowland AC KBE DFC AFC KStJ (March 1975 - March 1979)
  • ACM Sir Neville McNamara KBE AO AFC AE (March 1979 - April 1982)
  • AIRMSHL Selwyn Evans AC DSO AFC (April 1982 - May 1985)
  • AIRMSHL John (Jake) Newham AC (May 1985 - July 1987)
  • AIRMSHL Raymond Funnell AC (July 1987 - October 1992)
  • AIRMSHL Ian (Barry) Gration AO AFC (October 1992 - November 1994)
  • AIRMSHL Leslie Fisher AO (November 1994 - February 1997) (Continued as Chief of Air Force)

[edit] Chief of Air Force (from February 1997)

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../c/h/i/Chief_of_Air_Force_225d.html"