John Quaife

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John Quaife
Allegiance Flag of Australia Commonwealth of Australia
Service/branch Flag of the Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Air Force
Years of service 1981 - Present
Rank Air Vice Marshal
Commands held Headquarters Air Command
No. 77 Squadron RAAF
Battles/wars War in Afghanistan

Iraq War
Awards Member of the Order of Australia

Air Vice Marshal Alfred John Quaife AM is a senior officer within the Royal Australian Air Force, currently serving in the position of Head Capability Systems.

Contents

[edit] Service History

John Quaife graduated from No. 112 Pilots Course in September 1981. After an initial posting to the Strike Reconnaissance Group, and a brief tour flying Canberra aircraft, his operational career has focussed on fighter operations; Quaife's initial fighter training was conducted on Mirage IIIO aircraft.

In 1987, Quaife completed F/A-18 Hornet conversion training, and subsequently served with No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, No 77. Squadron and No. 75 Squadron. He is a Fighter Combat Instructor with in excess of 2000 hours fighter experience and from 1996 to 1998, Air Vice Marshal Quaife commanded No. 77 Squadron.[1]

Between 1992 and 1994, Air Vice Marshal Quaife served as a fast jet specialist officer in the Force Development Directorate of the Australian Defence Headquarters, primarily in developing the proposal for the acquisition of Hawk aircraft for Lead-in Fighter training. In 1999, Air Vice Marshal Quaife returned to that headquarters as the Director of Aerospace Combat Development.

During 2001, Quaife directed the Air Combat Group project. In this role he directed a small team that planned the amalgamation of RAAF fast jet operations into a single Force Element Group. In January 2002, he was appointed to command the newly created Air Combat Group. During his tenure, Air Combat Group units deployed for Operations Slipper and Falconer.[2]

In January 2004, Air Vice Marshal Quaife was appointed the RAAF’s first permanent Joint Force Air Component Commander. In this appointment he was responsible for developing Air Operations Centre functionality within the Australian Theatre air component. Between December 2004 and April 2005, Air Vice Marshal Quaife served as the director of the United States Combined Air Operations Centre, where he was responsible for orchestrating coalition air power in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Quaife was promoted to his current rank of Air Vice Marshal in June 2005, and appointed as Air Commander Australia. In August 2007, he accepted his current appointment.

Air Vice Marshal Quaife was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day 2004 Honours List.[3]

[edit] Honours and awards

Member of the Order of Australia (AM) (2004)[3]
Australian Active Service Medal with "ICAT" and "IRAQ 2003" clasps
Iraq Campaign Medal
Australian Service Medal with "SE ASIA" clasp
Defence Force Service Medal with 2 clasps
Australian Defence Medal

[edit] References

  1. ^ Defence Leaders' Bio
  2. ^ Bio as Joint Force Air Component Commander
  3. ^ a b It's an Honour - Member of the Order of Australia - 26 January 2004
    Citation: For exceptional service to the Australian Defence Force as the fast-jet specialist officer in the fields of Air Combat Capability Development and Force Structuring and the application of Air Combat power.

[edit] External links

Military offices
Preceded by
Rear Admiral Matt Tripovich AM, CSC		 Head of Capability Systems
2007-Present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
Air Vice Marshal Geoff Shepherd AM		 Air Commander Australia
2005-2007		 Succeeded by
Air Vice Marshal Mark Binskin AM