Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)
| Chief of the Defence Force | |
|---|---|
Air Chief Marshal | |
| Abbreviation | CDF |
| Member of | Australian Defence Force |
| Reports to | Minister for Defence |
| Term length | Four years[1] |
| Formation | 23 March 1958 |
| First holder | Lieutenant General Sir Henry Wells |
| Deputy | Vice Chief of the Defence Force |
| Website | Official website |
The Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) is the highest-ranking and most senior military officer in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and is the principal military advisor to the National Security Committee and the Minister for Defence. The current Chief of the Defence Force is General Angus Campbell, who took office on 6 July 2018.
Vice Admiral David Johnston will succeed Campbell as CDF in July 2024.[2]
Responsibilities
The CDF commands the ADF under the direction of the Minister for Defence and provides advice on matters that relate to military activity, including military operations.
The CDF is the Australian equivalent position of what in
Constitutionally, the
The CDF is appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of his/her ministers. The appointment is politically neutral, as are all military positions, and not affected by a change of government.Since 4 July 2014, the CDF is appointed for a fixed four-year term under the Defence Act (1903). Prior to this date, the appointment was for three years.[1] The position of CDF is notionally rotated between the Royal Australian Navy, the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force. However, in practice this has not been the case; of eighteen appointees, nine have been from the Army, five from the Navy and four from the Air Force.[7] The current Chief of the Defence Force is General Angus Campbell.
During peacetime, the Chief of the Defence Force is the only
), as is the VCDF.History
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. Instead, the senior service chief served as Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.[8] 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.[9]
Appointments
The following list chronologically records those who have held the post of Chief of the Defence Force or its preceding positions. The official title of the position at that period of time is listed immediately before the officers who held the role. The honours are as at the completion of the individual's term.
| No. | Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Defence branch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee | ||||||
| 1 | 23 March 1958 | 22 March 1959 | 364 days | Army | ||
| 2 | 23 March 1959 | 27 May 1961 | 2 years, 65 days | Navy | ||
| 3 | 28 May 1961 | 18 May 1966 | 4 years, 355 days | Air force | ||
| 4 | 19 May 1966 | 22 November 1970 | 4 years, 187 days | Army | ||
| 5 | 23 November 1970 | 23 November 1975 | 5 years, 0 days | Navy | ||
| 6 | 24 November 1975 | 8 February 1976 | 76 days | Army | ||
| Chief of Defence Force Staff | ||||||
| 6 | 9 February 1976 | 20 April 1977 | 1 year, 70 days | Army | ||
| 7 | 21 April 1977 | 20 April 1979 | 1 year, 364 days | Army | ||
| 8 | 21 April 1979 | 20 April 1982 | 2 years, 364 days | Navy | ||
| 9 | 21 April 1982 | 12 April 1984 | 1 year, 357 days | Air force | ||
| 10 | 13 April 1984 | 25 October 1984 | 195 days | Army | ||
| Chief of the Defence Force | ||||||
| 10 | 26 October 1984 | 12 April 1987 | 2 years, 168 days | Army | ||
| 11 | 13 April 1987 | 16 April 1993 | 6 years, 3 days | Army | ||
| 12 | 17 April 1993 | 6 July 1995 | 2 years, 80 days | Navy | ||
| 13 | 7 July 1995 | 3 July 1998 | 2 years, 361 days | Army | ||
| 14 | 4 July 1998 | 3 July 2002 | 3 years, 364 days | Navy | ||
| 15 | 4 July 2002 | 3 July 2005 | 2 years, 364 days | Army | ||
| 16 | 4 July 2005 | 3 July 2011 | 5 years, 364 days | Air force | ||
| 17 | 4 July 2011 | 30 June 2014 | 2 years, 361 days | Army | ||
| 18 | 30 June 2014 | 6 July 2018 | 4 years, 6 days | Air force | ||
| 19 | 6 July 2018 | Incumbent | 5 years, 280 days | Army | ||
Timeline
References
- ^ a b "New Australian Defence Force Command Team" (Press release). Office of the Prime Minister of Australia. 4 April 2014. Archived from the original on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
- ^ "Vice Admiral David Johnston Named New Chief of the Defence Force". ABC News. 8 April 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ "Chief of the Defence Force – Roles and Responsibilities". Department of Defence. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
- ^ "The Secretary and Chief of the Defence Force – "the Diarchy"". Department of Defence. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
- ^ [1] 10 USC 152. Chairman: appointment; grade and rank
- ISBN 978-0-9752387-2-1. Archived from the original on 27 April 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2015.)
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help - ^ "Chief of the Defence Force: Previous Chiefs". Department of Defence. Archived from the original on 30 January 2009. Retrieved 29 March 2008.
- ^ Rowell, Full Circle, p. 178
- ^ Horner, David (2002). "The Evolution of Australian Higher Command Arrangements". Command Papers. Canberra: Centre for Defence Leadership Studies, Australian Defence College. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012.
External links
- Australian Government. "Department of Defence". Commonwealth of Australia.
- "Defence Organisational Structure Chart" (PDF). Department of Defence. Commonwealth of Australia. 21 September 2015.
