Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)

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Chief of the Defence Force
Incumbent
Angus Campbell
since 6 July 2018
StyleAdmiral
General
Air Chief Marshal
AbbreviationCDF
Member ofAustralian Defence Force
Reports toMinister for Defence
Term lengthFour years[1]
Formation23 March 1958
First holderLieutenant General
Sir Henry Wells
DeputyVice Chief of the Defence Force
WebsiteOfficial 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.

Responsibilities[edit]

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.[2] In a diarchy, the CDF serves as co-chairman of the Defence Committee, conjointly with the Secretary of Defence, in the command and control of the Australian Defence Organisation.[3]

The CDF is the Australian equivalent position of what in NATO and the European Union is known as the Chief of Defence, in the United Kingdom is known as the Chief of the Defence Staff, and in the United States is known as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, although with the latter prohibited by law from having operational command authority over the US Armed Forces.[4]

Constitutionally, the Governor-General of Australia, is the de jure Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Defence Force. However, in practice, the Australian Government de facto exercises executive power via the Federal Executive Council.[5] 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.[6] The current Chief of the Defence Force is General Angus Campbell.

During peacetime, the Chief of the Defence Force is the only four-star officer in the ADF (admiral, general, or air chief marshal). The CDF is assisted by the Vice Chief of the Defence Force (VCDF) and serves as the Chairman of the Chiefs of Service Committee, composed of the service chiefs: the Chief of Navy (CN), Chief of Army (CA), and Chief of Air Force (CAF), all of whom are three-star officers (vice admiral, lieutenant general, and air marshal), as is the VCDF.

History[edit]

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.[7] 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.[8]

Appointments[edit]

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
Sir Henry Wells KBE, CB, DSO
Wells, HenryLieutenant General
Sir Henry Wells KBE, CB, DSO
(1898–1973)
23 March 195822 March 1959364 days Army
2
Sir Roy Dowling KBE, CB, DSO
Dowling, RoyVice Admiral
Sir Roy Dowling KBE, CB, DSO
(1901–1969)
23 March 195927 May 19612 years, 65 days Navy
3
Sir Frederick Scherger KBE, CB, DSO, AFC
Scherger, FrederickAir Chief Marshal
Sir Frederick Scherger KBE, CB, DSO, AFC
(1904–1984)
28 May 196118 May 19664 years, 355 days Air force
4
Sir John Wilton KBE, CB, DSO
Wilton, JohnGeneral
Sir John Wilton KBE, CB, DSO
(1910–1981)
19 May 196622 November 19704 years, 187 daysArmy
5
Sir Victor Smith AC, KBE, CB, DSC
Smith, VictorAdmiral
Sir Victor Smith AC, KBE, CB, DSC
(1913–1998)
23 November 197023 November 19755 years, 0 daysNavy
6
Frank Hassett AC, CB, CBE, DSO, LVO
Hassett, FrankGeneral
Frank Hassett AC, CB, CBE, DSO, LVO
(1918–2008)
24 November 19758 February 197676 daysArmy
Chief of Defence Force Staff
6
Sir Frank Hassett AC, KBE, CB, DSO, LVO
Hassett, FrankGeneral
Sir Frank Hassett AC, KBE, CB, DSO, LVO
(1918–2008)
9 February 197620 April 19771 year, 70 daysArmy
7
Sir Arthur MacDonald KBE, CB
MacDonald, ArthurGeneral
Sir Arthur MacDonald KBE, CB
(1919–1995)
21 April 197720 April 19791 year, 364 daysArmy
8
Sir Anthony Synnot KBE, AO
Synnot, ArthurAdmiral
Sir Anthony Synnot KBE, AO
(1922–2001)
21 April 197920 April 19822 years, 364 daysNavy
9
Sir Neville McNamara KBE, AO, AFC, AE
McNamara, NevilleAir Chief Marshal
Sir Neville McNamara KBE, AO, AFC, AE
(1923–2014)
21 April 198212 April 19841 year, 357 daysAir force
10
Sir Phillip Bennett AC, KBE, DSO
Bennett, PhillipGeneral
Sir Phillip Bennett AC, KBE, DSO
(1928–2023)
13 April 198425 October 1984195 daysArmy
Chief of the Defence Force
10
Sir Phillip Bennett AC, KBE, DSO
Bennett, PhillipGeneral
Sir Phillip Bennett AC, KBE, DSO
(1928–2023)
26 October 198412 April 19872 years, 168 daysArmy
11
Peter Gration AC, OBE
Gration, PeterGeneral
Peter Gration AC, OBE
(born 1932)
13 April 198716 April 19936 years, 3 daysArmy
12
Alan Beaumont AC
Beaumont, AlanAdmiral
Alan Beaumont AC
(1934–2004)
17 April 19936 July 19952 years, 80 daysNavy
13
John Baker AC, DSM
Baker, JohnGeneral
John Baker AC, DSM
(1936–2007)
7 July 19953 July 19982 years, 361 daysArmy
14
Chris Barrie AC
Barrie, ChrisAdmiral
Chris Barrie AC
(born 1945)
4 July 19983 July 20023 years, 364 daysNavy
15
Peter Cosgrove AC, MC
Cosgrove, PeterGeneral
Peter Cosgrove AC, MC
(born 1947)
4 July 20023 July 20052 years, 364 daysArmy
16
Angus Houston AC, AFC
Houston, AngusAir Chief Marshal
Angus Houston AC, AFC
(born 1947)
4 July 20053 July 20115 years, 364 daysAir force
17
David Hurley AC, DSC
Hurley, DavidGeneral
David Hurley AC, DSC
(born 1953)
4 July 201130 June 20142 years, 361 daysArmy
18
Mark Binskin AC
Binskin, MarkAir Chief Marshal
Mark Binskin AC
(born 1960)
30 June 20146 July 20184 years, 6 daysAir force
19
Angus Campbell AO, DSC
Campbell, AngusGeneral
Angus Campbell AO, DSC
6 July 2018Incumbent5 years, 261 daysArmy

Timeline[edit]

Angus Campbell (general)Mark BinskinDavid HurleyAngus HoustonPeter CosgroveChris Barrie (admiral)John Baker (general)Alan BeaumontPeter GrationPhillip BennettPhillip BennettNeville McNamaraAnthony SynnotArthur MacDonaldFrank HassettFrank HassettVictor SmithJohn Wilton (general)Frederick SchergerRoy DowlingHenry Wells (general)

References[edit]

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "Chief of the Defence Force – Roles and Responsibilities". Department of Defence. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  3. ^ "The Secretary and Chief of the Defence Force – "the Diarchy"". Department of Defence. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  4. ^ [1] 10 USC 152. Chairman: appointment; grade and rank
  5. ^ Federal Executive Council Handbook. Commonwealth of Australia. September 2009. ISBN 978-0-9752387-2-1. Archived from the original on 27 April 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2015. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  6. ^ "Chief of the Defence Force: Previous Chiefs". Department of Defence. Archived from the original on 30 January 2009. Retrieved 29 March 2008.
  7. ^ Rowell, Full Circle, p. 178
  8. ^ 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[edit]