| Air Command | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1942–current |
| Country | Australia |
| Allegiance | Australian Defence Force |
| Branch | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Current location | RAAF Glenbrook |
| Motto | Alert and Ready |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
AVM Mel Hupfeld (Air Commander Australia) |
|
Air Command is the operational 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.
Air Command consists of the following FEGs:
The Commander is responsible for all operational Air Force tasks, and reports to 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 a critical strategic role both in peace time and war time. 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.
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) |
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| AVM | William Anderson | CBE, DFC | 1942 – 1943 |
| AIRCDRE | Alan Moorhouse Charlesworth | CBE, AFC | 1943 – 1944 |
| AIRCDRE | Francis William Fellowes Lukis | CBE | 1945 – 1946 |
| AIRCDRE | Leon Victor Lachal | CBE | 1946 – 1947 |
| AVM | Francis Masson Bladin | CBE | 1947 – 1948 |
| AVM | John Patrick Joseph McCauley | CB, CBE | 1949 – 1953 |
| HQ Home Command (Air Officers Commanding) |
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| AVM | John Patrick Joseph McCauley | CB, CBE | 1953 – 1954 |
| AVM | Allan Leslie Walters | CB, CBE, AFC | 1954 – 1957 |
| AVM | Charles Douglas Candy | CB, CBE | 1958 – 1959 |
| HQ Operational Command (Air Officers Commanding) |
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| AVM | Valston Eldridge Hancock | CB, CBE, DFC | 1959 – 1961 |
| AVM | Frank Headlam | CB, CBE | 1961 – 1962 |
| AVM | Alister Murray Murdoch | CB, CBE | 1962 – 1965 |
| AVM | Colin Thomas Hannah | CB, CBE | 1965 – 1967 |
| AVM | Keith Selwyn Hennock | CBE, DFC | 1967 – 1969 |
| AVM | William Edwin Townsend | CB, CBE | 1969 – 1973 |
| AVM | Brian Alexander Eaton | CB, CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC | 1973 |
| AVM | Frederick Stephen Robey | AO, CBE | 1974 – 1978 |
| AVM | John Irwin Adams | CBE, DFC, AFC | 1978 – 1980 |
| AVM | Michael John Ridgway | AFC | 1980 – 1981 |
| AVM | Russell Noel Law | 1981 – 1984 | |
| AVM | Bernard John Reynolds | AM | 1984 – 1985 |
| AVM | Edward Arundel Radford | AO | 1985 – 1987 |
| Air Headquarters Australia (Air Commanders Australia) |
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| AVM | Edward Arundel Radford | AO | 1987 – 1990 |
| AVM | Ian Barrington Gration | AO, AFC | 1990 – 1992 |
| AVM | Gary John James Beck | AO | 1992 – 1996 |
| AVM | Peter Gervase Nicholson | AO | 1996 – 1996 |
| Headquarters Air Command (Air Commanders Australia) |
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| AVM | Peter Gervase Nicholson | AO | 1996 – 1998 |
| AVM | Alan William Titheridge | AM | 1998 – 1999 |
| AVM | Peter John Criss | AM, AFC | 1999 – 2000 |
| AVM | John Walter Kindler | AO, AFC | 2000 – 2003 |
| AVM | Geoffrey David Shepherd | AM | 2003 – 2005 |
| AVM | Alfred John Quaife | AM | 2005 – 2007 |
| AVM | Mark Donald Binskin | AM | 2007 – 2008 |
| AVM | Mark Alan Skidmore | AM | 2008 – 2011 |
| AVM | Melvin Ernest Glanville Hupfeld | DSC | 2011 – |
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