Vice Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)

Responsibilities

Created in 1986, the VCDF is a three-star officer in the Australian Defence Force (lieutenant general, vice admiral, or air marshal). The position's standing responsibilities include: Joint Doctrine, Education, Training and Evaluation; Joint Logistics; Reserve Policy; and Joint Capabilities, Commitments and Concepts. When acting as Chief of the Defence Force, the VCDF attends the National Security Committee of Cabinet (NSCC) and Secretary’s Committee on National Security (SCNS).

Until September 2007, 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 based at the Headquarters Joint Operations Command (HQJOC) facility at Bungendore, New South Wales.

Appointment

The appointment is made by the Governor General on the advice of his/her ministers under Section 9AA of the Defence Act (1903) and is for a fixed term of four years, nominally rotated between the three services, Navy, Army and Air Force; however in practice this has not been the case and the appointment has been held for longer or shorter periods of time. The role is politically neutral, as are all military positions, and is not affected by a change of government.

VCDF Group

The Vice Chief of the Defence Force Group is responsible for the provision of military strategic effects and commitments advice and planning, joint military professional education and training, logistics support, health support, ADF cadet and reserve policy, joint capability coordination, preparedness management, and joint and combined ADF doctrine.

The Military Strategic Commitments Division (MSCD) provides and coordinates ADF tri-service and joint strategic advice across the Australian Government (including the Headquarters Joint Operations Command and the Defence Strategic Policy and Intelligence Group) and situational awareness for current and potential ADF commitments. The Head Military Strategic Commitments is also responsible for the Australian Defence Force Investigative Service, strategic communications, strategic crisis response, the Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program, and engagement with the United Nations and other coalition partners.

The Military Strategic Plans Division (MSPD) provides strategic planning linking policy and operational arrangements.

The Force Integration Division (FID) is responsible for the design, development, integration and coordination of ADF joint warfare capabilities, including information systems, effects-based operations, and counter-IED efforts.

The Force Design Division is responsible for the provision of guidance and planning for future joint force design, requirements, and capabilities of the ADF.

Appointees

The following list chronologically records those who have held the post of Vice Chief of the Defence Force. Rank and honours are as at the completion of the individual's term.

Timeline

ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:10 PlotArea = top:10 bottom:50 right:130 left:20 AlignBars = late

DateFormat = yyyy Period = from:1985 till:2025 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:5 start:1985

Define $now = 2025

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LineData = layer:back width:0.1 color:time at:1985 at:1990 at:1995 at:2000 at:2005 at:2010 at:2015 at:2020 at:2025

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bar:Funnell from: 1986 till: 1987 color:RAAF text:Ray Funnell bar:Knox from: 1987 till: 1989 color:RAN text:Ian Knox bar:Beaumont from: 1989 till: 1992 color:RAN text:Alan Beaumont bar:Baker from: 1992 till: 1995 color:AA text:John Baker bar:Walls from: 1995 till: 1997 color:RAN text:Robert Walls bar:Barrie from: 1997 till: 1998 color:RAN text:Chris Barrie bar:Riding from: 1998 till: 2000 color:RAAF text:Douglas Riding bar:Mueller from: 2000 till: 2002 color:AA text:Desmond Mueller bar:Shalders from: 2002 till: 2005 color:RAN text:Russ Shalders bar:Gillespie from: 2005 till: 2008 color:AA text:Ken Gillespie bar:Hurley from: 2008 till: 2011 color:AA text:David Hurley bar:Biskin from: 2011 till: 2014 color:RAAF text:Mark Binskin bar:Griggs from: 2014 till: 2018 color:RAN text:Ray Griggs bar:Johnston from: 2018 till: 2024 color:RAN text:David Johnston bar:Chipman from: 2024 till: $now color:RAAF text:Robert Chipman

References

References

1. [http://www.defence.gov.au/vcdf/ ADF Website (accessed 25 May 2010)]
2. link. (30 July 2008)
3. [http://www.defence.gov.au/VCDF/OrgChart.asp] Vice Chief of the Defence Force Group Organisational Chart
4. [http://www.defence.gov.au/VCDF/AboutVCDFGroup.asp#VCDFGroup] Vice Chief of the Defence Force Group overview of Commands and Divisions overview
5. [http://www.directory.gov.au/directory?ea0_lf99_120.&organizationalUnit&c2b75d09-04d3-4c4e-aca0-71189ee0b336] Australian Government Directory of the Military Strategic Commitments Division
6. [http://www.directory.gov.au/directory?ea0_lf99_120.&organizationalUnit&68fb2652-db08-414b-bfb4-f92d31564733] Australian Government Directory overview of the Joint Capability Management and Integration Division
7. VADM Shalders. (2 April 2003). "Transcript of Speech to RUSI 'The Evolving role of the Vice Chief of the Defence Force'".
8. RAAF Air Development Power Centre. (6 June 1986). "Funnell first VCDF".
9. http://www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews/editions/5114/5114.pdf 'Seeing Stars' ''Navy News'', p 11 (accessed 25 May 2010
10. http://www.defence.gov.au/cdf/past_chiefs.htm (accessed 26 May 2010)