{{Short description|Military three-star appointment in the Australian Defence Force}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2016}} {{Use Australian English|date=April 2016}} {{Infobox Political post |post = Chief of Joint Operations |body = |insignia = |insigniasize = 100px |insigniacaption = |imagesize = |image = |alt= = |incumbent = Vice Admiral Justin Jones |incumbentsince = 5 July 2024 |style = |member_of = Australian Defence Force |reports_to = Chief of the Defence Force |formation = September 2007 |termlength = 3–4 years |inaugural = Lieutenant General<br/>David Hurley |website = }} The '''Chief of Joint Operations''' ('''CJOPS''') is a three-star role within the Australian Defence Force (ADF), responsible for the Joint Operations Command and joint operational deployments, such as United Nations peacekeeping and joint task groups. Until 2007, the Vice Chief of the Defence Force (VCDF) was double hatted, additionally exercising the responsibilities of CJOPS. However, in September 2007 the Minister of Defence, Brendan Nelson announced the formation of a separate CJOPS position based at the Headquarters Joint Operations Command (HQJOC) at Bungendore, New South Wales.<ref>[http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/NelsonMintpl.cfm?CurrentId=7078 Minister of Defence Press Release MIN99/07 19 September 2007 ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080730091651/http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/NelsonMintpl.cfm?CurrentId=7078 |date=30 July 2008 }}</ref>
==Joint Operations Command== The Joint Operations Command consists of Headquarters Joint Operations Command, Northern Command, and Australian Defence Force elements of the Maritime Border Command. Chief of Joint Operations is a joint position, and the incumbent can be appointed from any of the three ADF services.
==Chiefs of Joint Operations== The following list chronologically records those who have held the post of CJOPS, with rank and honours as at the completion of the individual's term.
{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Rank || Name || Postnominals || Image || Term began || Term ended |- | Lieutenant General || {{sortname|David|Hurley}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AO|DSC}} || 70px || {{dts|September 2007}} || {{dts|July 2008}} |- | Lieutenant General || {{sortname|Mark|Evans|Mark Evans (general)}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AO|DSC}} || 70px || {{dts|July 2008}} || {{dts|May 2011}} |- | Lieutenant General || {{sortname|Ash|Power}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AO|CSC}} || 70px || {{dts|May 2011}} || {{dts|20 May 2014}} |- | Vice Admiral || {{sortname|David|Johnston|David Johnston (admiral)}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|AO}} || 70px || {{dts|20 May 2014}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/defencenews/stories/2014/mar/0328.htm|title=New Chief of Joint Operations announced|access-date=28 March 2014|work=Defence News|publisher=Department of Defence}}</ref> || {{dts|24 May 2018}} |- | Air Marshal || {{sortname|Mel|Hupfeld}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AO|DSC}} || 70px || {{dts|24 May 2018}} || {{dts|1 July 2019}} |- | Lieutenant General || {{sortname|Greg|Bilton}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AO|CSC}} || 70px || {{dts|1 July 2019}} || {{dts|5 July 2024}} |- | Vice Admiral || {{sortname|Justin|Jones|Justin Jones (admiral)}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AO|CSC}} || || {{dts|5 July 2024}} || Incumbent |}
==Deputy Chief of Joint Operations== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Rank || Name || Postnominals || Term began || Term ended || Notes |-Major General Mark Evans DSC. 2004 2005 | Rear Admiral || {{sortname|Rowan|Moffitt}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|AO}} || {{dts|2005}} || {{dts|2008}} || <ref>{{cite web|title=Rear Admiral Rowan Carlisle Moffitt|url=http://connectweb.com.au/view-biography.aspx?pid=13440&p=WWA|work=Who's Who in Australia Online|publisher=ConnectWeb|access-date=3 January 2018}}</ref> |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Greg|Evans|dab=RAAF officer}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|DSC|AM}} || {{dts|2008}} || {{dts|2009}} || |- | Major General || {{sortname|Ash|Power}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AM|CSC}} || {{dts|2009}} || {{dts|2010}} || |- | Rear Admiral || {{sortname|Ray|Griggs|dab=admiral}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AM|CSC}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2010|05}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2011|06}} || |- | Rear Admiral || {{sortname|Steve|Gilmore|dab=admiral}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AM|CSC}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2011|12}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2013|11}} || <ref name=embassy>{{cite web |url=http://usa.embassy.gov.au/files/whwh/HADS-Gilmore-bio.pdf |title=Rear Admiral Steve Gilmore, AM, CSC, RAN |work=Embassy of Australia, Washington DC |publisher=Australian Government |access-date=21 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303165827/http://usa.embassy.gov.au/files/whwh/HADS-Gilmore-bio.pdf |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |- | Major General || {{sortname|Shane|Caughey}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AM|CSC}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2013|11}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2015|11}} || |- | Major General || {{sortname|Stuart|Smith|Stuart Smith (general)}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AO|DSC}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2015|11}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2017|04}} || |- | Major General || {{sortname|Greg|Bilton|}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AM|CSC}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2017|04}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2018|12}} || |- | Major General || {{sortname|Roger|Noble|}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|DSC|AM|CSC}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2019}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2019|09}} || |- | Rear Admiral || {{sortname|Jaimie|Hatcher}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|DSC|AM}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2019|09}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2021|08}} || <ref>{{cite news|last=O'Hara|first=Veronica|title=ADF Welcomes New Deputy Operations Chief|url=https://news.defence.gov.au/people/adf-welcomes-new-deputy-operations-chief|work=Defence News|publisher=Department of Defence|date=4 October 2019|access-date=21 October 2019}}</ref> |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Michael|Kitcher}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AM|DSM}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2021|08}} || {{dts|January 2024}} || |- | Rear Admiral || {{sortname|Justin|Jones|Justin Jones (admiral)}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AO|CSC}} || {{dts|January 2024}} || {{dts|July 2024}} || |- | Major General || {{sortname|Hugh|McAslan}} || {{post-nominals|country=NZL|size=100%|sep=,|DSD}} || {{dts|1 October 2024}} || || The first New Zealand Army officer to hold this post. <ref>{{cite news|title= New Zealand Defence Force Major General Hugh McAslan appointed as Deputy Chief of Joint Operations|url= https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/releases/2024-10-02/new-zealand-defence-force-major-general-hugh-mcaslan-appointed-deputy-chief-joint-operations|work=Defence Media Release|publisher=Department of Defence|date=2 October 2024|access-date=3 October 2024}}</ref> |}
==See also== {{stack|{{portal|Military of Australia}}}} * Current senior Australian Defence Organisation personnel
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{ADF Leadership}}
Category:Leadership of the Australian Defence Force Category:Military appointments of Australia Category:Australian generals