Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)

Chief of the Defence Force
Incumbent David Johnston since 10 July 2024
Style	Admiral General Air Chief Marshal
Abbreviation	CDF
Member of	Australian Defence Force
Reports to	Minister for Defence
Term length	Four years[1]
Formation	23 March 1958
First holder	Lieutenant General Sir Henry Wells
Deputy	Vice Chief of the Defence Force
Website	Official 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 Admiral David Johnston, who took office on 10 July 2024.

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 twenty appointees, twelve have been from the Army, six from the Navy and four from the Air Force.^[6]

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.

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]

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		Wells, HenryLieutenant General Sir Henry Wells KBE, CB, DSO (1898–1973)	23 March 1958	22 March 1959	364 days	Army
2		Dowling, RoyVice Admiral Sir Roy Dowling KBE, CB, DSO (1901–1969)	23 March 1959	27 May 1961	2 years, 65 days	Navy
3		Scherger, FrederickAir Chief Marshal Sir Frederick Scherger KBE, CB, DSO, AFC (1904–1984)	28 May 1961	18 May 1966	4 years, 355 days	Air force
4		Wilton, JohnGeneral Sir John Wilton KBE, CB, DSO (1910–1981)	19 May 1966	22 November 1970	4 years, 187 days	Army
5		Smith, VictorAdmiral Sir Victor Smith AC, KBE, CB, DSC (1913–1998)	23 November 1970	23 November 1975	5 years, 0 days	Navy
6		Hassett, FrankGeneral Frank Hassett AC, CB, CBE, DSO, LVO (1918–2008)	24 November 1975	8 February 1976	76 days	Army
Chief of Defence Force Staff
6		Hassett, FrankGeneral Sir Frank Hassett AC, KBE, CB, DSO, LVO (1918–2008)	9 February 1976	20 April 1977	1 year, 70 days	Army
7		MacDonald, ArthurGeneral Sir Arthur MacDonald KBE, CB (1919–1995)	21 April 1977	20 April 1979	1 year, 364 days	Army
8		Synnot, ArthurAdmiral Sir Anthony Synnot KBE, AO (1922–2001)	21 April 1979	20 April 1982	2 years, 364 days	Navy
9		McNamara, NevilleAir Chief Marshal Sir Neville McNamara KBE, AO, AFC, AE (1923–2014)	21 April 1982	12 April 1984	1 year, 357 days	Air force
10		Bennett, PhillipGeneral Sir Phillip Bennett AC, KBE, DSO (1928–2023)	13 April 1984	25 October 1984	195 days	Army
Chief of the Defence Force
10		Bennett, PhillipGeneral Sir Phillip Bennett AC, KBE, DSO (1928–2023)	26 October 1984	12 April 1987	2 years, 168 days	Army
11		Gration, PeterGeneral Peter Gration AC, OBE (born 1932)	13 April 1987	16 April 1993	6 years, 3 days	Army
12		Beaumont, AlanAdmiral Alan Beaumont AC (1934–2004)	17 April 1993	6 July 1995	2 years, 80 days	Navy
13		Baker, JohnGeneral John Baker AC, DSM (1936–2007)	7 July 1995	3 July 1998	2 years, 361 days	Army
14		Barrie, ChrisAdmiral Chris Barrie AC (born 1945)	4 July 1998	3 July 2002	3 years, 364 days	Navy
15		Cosgrove, PeterGeneral Peter Cosgrove AC, MC (born 1947)	4 July 2002	3 July 2005	2 years, 364 days	Army
16		Houston, AngusAir Chief Marshal Angus Houston AC, AFC (born 1947)	4 July 2005	3 July 2011	5 years, 364 days	Air force
17		Hurley, DavidGeneral David Hurley AC, DSC (born 1953)	4 July 2011	30 June 2014	2 years, 361 days	Army
18		Binskin, MarkAir Chief Marshal Mark Binskin AC (born 1960)	30 June 2014	6 July 2018	4 years, 6 days	Air force
19		Campbell, AngusGeneral Angus Campbell AO, DSC	6 July 2018	10 July 2024	6 years, 4 days	Army
20		Johnston, DavidAdmiral David Johnston AC (born 1962)	10 July 2024	Incumbent	112 days	Navy

• Australian Government. "Department of Defence". Commonwealth of Australia.
• "Defence Organisational Structure Chart" (PDF). Department of Defence. Commonwealth of Australia. 21 September 2015.