RAAF Air Command

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)
Components

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.

Past Commanders

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)
AVM Anderson, WilliamWilliam Anderson CBE, DFC 1942 – 1943
AIRCDRE Charlesworth, Alan MoorhouseAlan Moorhouse Charlesworth CBE, AFC 1943 – 1944
AIRCDRE Lukis, Francis William FellowesFrancis William Fellowes Lukis CBE 1945 – 1946
AIRCDRE Lachal, Leon VictorLeon Victor Lachal CBE 1946 – 1947
AVM Bladin, Francis MassonFrancis Masson Bladin CBE 1947 – 1948
AVM McCauley, John Patrick JosephJohn Patrick Joseph McCauley CB, CBE 1949 – 1953
HQ Home Command
(Air Officers Commanding)
AVM McCauley, John Patrick JosephJohn Patrick Joseph McCauley CB, CBE 1953 – 1954
AVM Walters, Allan LeslieAllan Leslie Walters CB, CBE, AFC 1954 – 1957
AVM Candy, Charles DouglasCharles Douglas Candy CB, CBE 1958 – 1959
HQ Operational Command
(Air Officers Commanding)
AVM Hancock, Valston EldridgeValston Eldridge Hancock CB, CBE, DFC 1959 – 1961
AVM Headlam, FrankFrank Headlam CB, CBE 1961 – 1962
AVM Murdoch, Alister MurrayAlister Murray Murdoch CB, CBE 1962 – 1965
AVM Hannah, Colin ThomasColin Thomas Hannah CB, CBE 1965 – 1967
AVM Hennock, Keith SelwynKeith Selwyn Hennock CBE, DFC 1967 – 1969
AVM Townsend, William EdwinWilliam Edwin Townsend CB, CBE 1969 – 1973
AVM Eaton, Brian AlexanderBrian Alexander Eaton CB, CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC 1973
AVM Robey, Frederick StephenFrederick Stephen Robey AO, CBE 1974 – 1978
AVM Adams, John IrwinJohn Irwin Adams CBE, DFC, AFC 1978 – 1980
AVM Ridgway, Michael JohnMichael John Ridgway AFC 1980 – 1981
AVM Law, Russell NoelRussell Noel Law 1981 – 1984
AVM Reynolds, Bernard JohnBernard John Reynolds AM 1984 – 1985
AVM Radford, Edward ArundelEdward Arundel Radford AO 1985 – 1987
Air Headquarters Australia
(Air Commanders Australia)
AVM Radford, Edward ArundelEdward Arundel Radford AO 1987 – 1990
AVM Gration, Ian BarringtonIan Barrington Gration AO, AFC 1990 – 1992
AVM Beck, Gary John JamesGary John James Beck AO 1992 – 1996
AVM Nicholson, Peter GervasePeter Gervase Nicholson AO 1996 – 1996
Headquarters Air Command
(Air Commanders Australia)
AVM Nicholson, Peter GervasePeter Gervase Nicholson AO 1996 – 1998
AVM Titheridge, Alan WilliamAlan William Titheridge AM 1998 – 1999
AVM Criss, Peter JohnPeter John Criss AM, AFC 1999 – 2000
AVM Kindler, John WalterJohn Walter Kindler AO, AFC 2000 – 2003
AVM Shepherd, Geoffrey DavidGeoffrey David Shepherd AM 2003 – 2005
AVM Quaife, Alfred JohnAlfred John Quaife AM 2005 – 2007
AVM Binskin, Mark DonaldMark Donald Binskin AM 2007 – 2008
AVM Skidmore, Mark AlanMark Alan Skidmore AM 2008 – 2011
AVM Hupfeld, Melvin Ernest GlanvilleMelvin Ernest Glanville Hupfeld DSC 2011 –

References

Leadership of the Australian Defence Force