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 Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston

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 ministers. The appointment is politically neutral, as are all military positions, and not affected by a change of government.

Contents

[edit] History

Attending the 2008 Anzac Day National Service at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra: Angus Houston, Chief of the Defence Force (left); Jon Stanhope, Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory (centre); Peter Cosgrove, previous Chief of the Defence Force (second from right); and Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister of Australia (right).
Attending the 2008 Anzac Day National Service at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra: Angus Houston, Chief of the Defence Force (left); Jon Stanhope, Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory (centre); Peter Cosgrove, previous Chief of the Defence Force (second from right); and Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister of Australia (right).

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. 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.[4]

[edit] Appointments

[edit] Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee

[edit] Chief of Defence Force Staff

[edit] Chief of the Defence Force

On 19 March 2008, it was announced that Air Chief Marshal Houston's appointment had been extended to 3 July 2011.[5]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Chief of the Defence Staff: Roles & Responsibilities. Retrieved on 29 March 2008.
  2. ^ Chief of the Defence Staff: The Diarchy. Retrieved on 29 March 2008.
  3. ^ Chief of the Defence Staff: Previous Chiefs. Retrieved on 29 March 2008.
  4. ^ Horner, "Evolution of Australian Higher Command Arrangements".
  5. ^ Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston retained in defence shake-up. Retrieved on 29 March 2008.

[edit] References


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Leadership of the Australian Defence Force