VCDF
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The Vice Chief of the Defence Force (VCDF) is the military deputy to the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) of Australia, and acts as the CDF in his absence under standing acting arrangements.

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).¹

The appointment is made by the Governor General on the advice of his ministers under Section 9AA of the Defence Act (1903) and is for a fixed term of three 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.

The position of VCDF was created in 1986.

Vice Chiefs of the Defence Force

• Air Marshal Raymond Funnell AO (June 1986 - January 1987)
• Vice Admiral Ian Knox AC (January 1987 - September 1989)
• Vice Admiral Alan Beaumont AC (September 1989 - October 1992)
• Lieutenant General John Baker AC (October 1992 - April 1995)
• Vice Admiral Robert Walls AO (April 1995 - March 1997)
• Vice Admiral Chris Barrie AC (March 1997 - July 1998)
• Air Marshal Douglas Riding AO, DFC (July 1998 - July 2000)
• Lieutenant General Desmond Mueller AO (July 2000 - July 2002)
• Vice Admiral Russ Shalders AO, CSC (July 2002 - July 2005)
• Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie AO, DSC, CSM (July 2005 - July 2008)
• Lieutenant General David Hurley AO, DSC (July 2008 - July 2011)

Chief of Joint Operations (CJOPS)

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 (Liberal) 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.

Chiefs of Joint Operations

• Lieutenant General David Hurley AO, DSC (September 2007 - July 2008)
• Lieutenant General Mark Evans AO, DSC (July 2008 - July 2011)

References