Vice Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)

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The Vice Chief of the Defence Force (VCDF) is the military deputy to the Chief of the Defence Force and acts as the Chief of the Defence Force in his absence under standing acting arrangements. When acting Chief of the Defence Force, the Vice Chief of the Defence Force attends the National Security Committee of Cabinet (NSCC) and Secretary’s Committee on National Security (SCNS).^[1]

The VCDF's responsibilities include Joint Doctrine, Education, Training and Evaluation; Joint Logistics; Reserve Policy; and Joint Capabilities, Commitments and Concepts.

VCDF is a fixed term appointment of three years, and is ideally rotated between the three services (Navy, Army and Air Force). However in practice this has not been the case; for various reasons, the appointment has been held for longer or shorter periods of time.

The VCDF is a three star officer in the ADF (Lieutenant General (LTGEN), Vice Admiral (VADM) or Air Marshal (AIRMSHL)).

The VCDF is appointed by the Governor General on the advice of his ministers under Section 9AA of the Defence Act (1903). The appointment is politically neutral, as are all military positions, and is not affected by a change of government.

The position of VCDF was created in 1986.

[edit] Chief of Joint Operations (CJOPS)

Until recently, the VCDF was "double hatted" as the Chief of Joint Operations (CJOPS). In this role he commanded Australian Defence Force operations on behalf of the Chief of the Defence Force. In September 2007, The Minister of Defence, Brendan Nelson announced the formation of a separate three star CJOPS position that will be based at the new Headquarters Joint Operations Command (HQJOC) facility at Bungendore, New South Wales on its completion.^[2]

Joint Operations Command consists of Headquarters Joint Operations Command and Border Protection Command. The Direct Command Units consists of Military Strategic Commitments Division, incorporating the Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program; Reserve Policy Division; and the Command and Control Implementation Team.

[edit] Vice Chiefs of the Defence Force

• AIRMSHL Raymond Funnell AO (June 1986 - January 1987)
• VADM Ian Knox AO (January 1987 - September 1989)
• VADM Alan Beaumont AC (September 1989 - October 1992)
• LTGEN John Baker AC DSM (October 1992 - April 1995)
• VADM Robert Walls AO (April 1995 - March 1997)
• VADM Chris Barrie AC (March 1997 - July 1998)
• AIRMSHL Douglas Riding AO (July 1998 - July 2000)
• LTGEN Desmond Mueller AO (July 2000 - July 2002)
• VADM Russ Shalders AO CSC (July 2002 - July 2005)
• LTGEN Ken Gillespie AO DSC CSM (July 2005 - present)

[edit] References