Senior Australian Defence Organisation Positions

This page provides a list of Senior Australian Defence Organisation Positions, and includes access to information about past occupants of these positions. For information about current occupants of these positions, see Current senior Australian Defence Organisation personnel.

The Australian Defence Organisation (ADO) consists of both the uniformed military, known as the Australian Defence Force (ADF), and the civilian Department of Defence, which includes a number of civilian support organisations. Nominally, the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) heads the ADF, and the Secretary (of the Department of Defence) heads the civilian organisations, but in fact, they jointly manage the Australian Defence Organisation under a "diarchy", and both report directly to the Minister for Defence.[1]

Since 19xx, the highest active rank in the Australian Defence Force is reserved for the CDF. This is a four-star rank and the CDF is the only Australian officer at that level. As a result of the diarchy, the Secretary of the Department of Defence is of an equivalent level.

This page provides access to information about senior ADO positions (both civilian and military) at the equivalent four-, three-, and, where useful, two- and one-star levels.

Summary of Senior Positions by level

Five-star level

In current Australian circumstances, the five-star level is not an active rank.[2]

Four-star level

At present there are two positions at the four-star level: the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF)[3] and the Secretary of the Department of Defence (SECDEF). The SECDEF is a civilian position which is of equal status to the military's four-star ranks.

Three-star level

Abbreviations: DEPSEC - Deputy Secretary[4]

People at the three-star (or equivalent) level are:

The Vice Chief of the Defence Force (VCDF)[3]

Chiefs of the branches of the armed services:

Senior Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) Leaders:[5]

Heads or Chiefs of the various support organisations:

Two-star level

Abbreviations: FAS - First Assistant Secretary[7]

Capability Development

Finance

Information (CIO Group)

Intelligence, Security and International Policy

Operations

People Strategies and Policy

Strategy, Coordination and Governance

Support

VCDF

DJFHQ (Deployable Joint Forces Headquarters)

Navy

Army

Air Force

Reserves:

DMO Systems:[5]

DMO Programs:[5]

DMO Corporate:[5]

Other

One-star level

Srategy, Coordination and Governance

Information about previous occupants of Senior Australian Defence Organisation Positions

Chief of the Defence Force (CDF)

See Chief of the Defence Force

Secretary of Defence (SECDEF)

This is a civilian "four-star equivalent level" position.

Name Sort by
Surname 		Start End bio photo
Nick Warner Warner 2006 bio photo
Ric Smith Smith 2006

Vice Chief of the Defence Force (VCDF)

See Vice Chief of the Defence Force

CEO of Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO)

See Defence Materiel Organisation

DEPSEC Defence Support

This is a civilian "three-star equivalent level" position.

Name Sort by
Surname 		Start End bio photo
Martin Bowles Bowles 2006 bio photo

DEPSEC Strategy

This is a civilian "three-star equivalent level" position which has had a variety of names.
The current name of the position is "DEPSEC Strategy, Coordination and Governance"

Name Sort by
Surname		 Position name Start End bio photo
Mike Pezzullo Pezzullo DEPSEC Strategy, Coordination and Governance 2006 bio photo

Chief of Joint Operations (CJOPS)

See CJOPS

Chief, Capability Development Group (CCDG)

This is a "three-star" position which, to date, has been occupied by an ADF member.

Name Sort by
Surname 		Start End bio photo
AIRMSHL John Harvey Harvey 2010 Present
VADM Matt Tripovich Tripovich 2007 2010 bio photo
LTGEN David Hurley Hurley 2003 2007

References and notes

  1. ↑ The ADO diarchy is a governance structure unique in the Australian Commonwealth Public Service.
  2. ↑ For more information, see Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Australian Navy), Field Marshal (Australia) and Marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 These positions are Statutory Appointments.
  4. ↑ Note that "Deputy Secretaries" are generally civilians - career senior public servants at "SES Band 3" level. "Chiefs" are generally three-star military personnel.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 DMO Leadership Team
  6. ↑ The CEO DMO is directly accountable to the Minister for DMO's performance, but is also accountable to the Secretary and CDF.
  7. ↑ Note that "First Assistant Secretaries" are generally civilians - career senior public servants at "SES Band 2" level. "Heads" and "Commanders" are generally two-star military personnel. Note, however, that is not always the case.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Commander Forces Command" (CFC) & "Head of Modernisation and Strategic Planning - Army" (HMSP-A) replace "Land Commander Australia" (LCAUST) & "Commander, Training Command - Army" (CTC-A)
  9. ↑ Reports directly to the Minister of Defence.
  10. ↑ Directly responsible to CDF
  11. ↑ Reports directly to the Secretary and CDF

See also

External links