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:
- Chief of Navy (CN)[3]
- Chief of Army (CA)[3]
- Chief of Air Force (CAF)[3]
Senior Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) Leaders:[5]
- CEO of the DMO[6]
- general manager Systems
- general manager Programs
- general manager Corporate
Heads or Chiefs of the various support organisations:
- Capability: Chief Capability Development Group
- Finance: Chief Finance Officer (CFO)
- Information: chief information officer (CIO)
- Intelligence: DEPSEC Intelligence, Security and International Policy
- Operations: Chief of Joint Operations (CJOPS)
- Personnel: DEPSEC People Strategies and Policy
- Science & Technology: Chief Defence Scientist (CDS), (Head of the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO))
- Strategy: DEPSEC Strategy, Coordination and Governance
- Support: DEPSEC Defence Support
Two-star level
Abbreviations: FAS – First Assistant Secretary[7]
Capability Development
- FAS, Capability Investment and Resources
- Head, Capability Systems (HCS)
- at least one other
Finance
Information (CIO Group)
- Chief Technology Officer (CTO – civilian)
- FAS Information and Communications Technology Development
- Head Information and Communications Technology Operations
- FAS Information and Communications Technology Reform
Intelligence, Security and International Policy
- Director, Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO)
- Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation (DIGO)
- Defence Signals Directorate (DSD)
- Defence Security Authority (DSA)
- International Policy Division (IP)
- Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Branch (ISR)
- Business Management – Intelligence Branch (BM-I)
Operations
- Commander, Border Protection
- Commander, Joint Logistics (CJLOG)
- Deputy Commander Joint Operations (DCJOPS)
- Commander of Australian Forces in the MEAO (Middle East Area of Operations)
People Strategies and Policy
- Head, Defence Personnel Executive (HDPE)
- FAS, Personnel
Strategy, Coordination and Governance
- Head, Strategic Policy
- Head Military Strategic Commitments
- FAS, Policy Development
- FAS, Coordination and Public Affairs
- FAS, Governance and Implementation
Support
- Head, Defence Health
- Head, Personnel Services
- Head, National Operations
- Head, Defence Legal
- Head, Infrastructure
- chief operating officer (COO)
VCDF
DJFHQ (Deployable Joint Forces Headquarters)
- Commander DJFHQ(M) – Maritime
- Commander DJFHQ(L) – Land – Double hatted with Commander 1Div
- Commander DJFHQ(A) – Air
Navy
- Deputy Chief of Navy (DCN)
- Commander Australian Fleet (COMAUSFLT)
Army
- Deputy Chief of Army (DCA)
- Commander Forces Command (CFC)[8]
- Head of Modernisation and Strategic Planning – Army[8]
- Special Operations Commander, Australia
- Commander, 1st Division
- Commander, 2nd Division
Air Force
- Deputy Chief of Air Force (DCAF)
- Air Commander Australia (ACAUST)
Reserves:
- Assistant Chief of the Defence Force (Reserves) and Head Reserve and Employer Support Division
DMO Systems:[5]
- Head, Aerospace Systems Division (HASD)
- Head, Electronic Systems Division (HESD)
- Head, Maritime Systems Division (HMSD)
- Head, Helicopter Systems Division (HHSD)
- Head, Land Systems Division (HLSD)
- Head, Explosive Ordnance Division (HEOD)
DMO Programs:[5]
- Program Manager – CW (Collins and Wedgetail)
- Program Manager – NACC (New Air Combat Capability)
- Program Manager – AWD (Air Warfare Destroyer)
- Head, Industry Division
DMO Corporate:[5]
- General Counsel
- Chief Finance Officer – DMO
- Head, Human Resources and Corporate Services
Other
One-star level
Srategy, Coordination and Governance
- Director-General Public Affairs
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
- ↑ The ADO diarchy is a governance structure unique in the Australian Commonwealth Public Service.
- ↑ For more information, see Admiral of the Fleet, Field Marshal (Australia) and Marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 These positions are Statutory Appointments.
- ↑ Note that "Deputy Secretaries" are generally civilians – career senior public servants at "SES Band 3" level. "Chiefs" are generally three-star military personnel.
- 1 2 3 4 DMO Leadership Team
- ↑ The CEO DMO is directly accountable to the Minister for DMO's performance, but is also accountable to the Secretary and CDF.
- ↑ 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.
- 1 2 "Commander Forces Command" (CFC) & "Head of Modernisation and Strategic Planning – Army" (HMSP-A) replace "Land Commander Australia" (LCAUST) & "Commander, Training Command – Army" (CTC-A)
- ↑ Reports directly to the Minister of Defence.
- ↑ Directly responsible to CDF
- ↑ Reports directly to the Secretary and CDF