RAAF Air Command

{{Short description|Operational arm of the Royal Australian Air Force}} {{refimprove|date=January 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}} {{Infobox military unit |unit_name=Air Command |image= |caption= |dates=1942–current |country=Australia |allegiance= |branch=Royal Australian Air Force |type= |role= |size= |command_structure= |garrison=RAAF Glenbrook |garrison_label= |nickname= |patron= |motto=Alert and Ready |colors= |colors_label= |march= |mascot= |equipment= |equipment_label= |battles= |anniversaries= |decorations= |battle_honours=  |commander1=Air Vice Marshal Harvey Reynolds (Air Commander Australia) |commander1_label= |commander2= |commander2_label= |commander3= |commander3_label= |notable_commanders=  |identification_symbol= |identification_symbol_label= |identification_symbol_2= |identification_symbol_2_label= |identification_symbol_3= |identification_symbol_3_label= |identification_symbol_4= |identification_symbol_4_label=  |aircraft_attack= |aircraft_bomber= |aircraft_electronic= |aircraft_fighter= |aircraft_helicopter= |aircraft_interceptor= |aircraft_patrol= |aircraft_recon= |aircraft_trainer= |aircraft_transport= }}{{command structure |name= |date= |parent= |subordinate=Air Combat Group Air Force Training Group Air Lift Group Surveillance & Response Group Combat Support Group Air Warfare Centre }}

'''Air Command''' is the operational arm of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). It is headed by the '''Air Commander Australia''', whose role is to manage and command the RAAF's Force Element Groups (FEGs), which contain the operational capability of the Air Force.<ref>{{cite web |title=Air Command Headquarters |url=https://www.airforce.gov.au/about-us/structure/air-command-headquarters-page |website=Royal Australian Air Force |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320035523/https://www.airforce.gov.au/about-us/structure/air-command-headquarters-page |archive-date=20 March 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Headquarters Air Command is located at RAAF Base Glenbrook.<ref name="Structure">{{cite web |title=Structure |url=https://www.airforce.gov.au/about-us/structure |website=Royal Australian Air Force |access-date=19 April 2022}}</ref>

==Structure== Air Command consists of the following FEGs:<ref name="Structure"/> *Air Mobility Group *Air Combat Group *Surveillance and Response Group *Combat Support Group *Air Warfare Centre<ref>{{cite news|title=RAAF's AOSG becomes Air Warfare Centre|url=http://australianaviation.com.au/2016/03/raafs-aosg-becomes-air-warfare-centre/|access-date=15 August 2016|work=Australian Aviation|date=7 March 2016}}</ref> *Air Force Training Group

Air Command has a critical strategic role both in peacetime and wartime. It works closely with Air Force Training Group (formerly RAAF Training Command) and the Australian Defence Force's Joint Logistics Command in developing and maintaining the nation's defence capabilities.

==Commanders== The Air Commander is responsible for all operational Air Force tasks, and reports to the Chief of Air Force. The Air Commander raises, trains and sustains forces for assignment to operations under the Chief of Joint Operations (CJOPS). Similar arrangements exist with Commander Forces Command (Australian Army) and Commander Australian Fleet (Royal Australian Navy).

Air Command has undergone a number of changes since its formation in May 1942, both in name and location. The following table lists those Air Force officers who have been appointed to lead the command and its headquarters in its various incarnations.

''Note: The official title of each group of commanders is listed immediately after the name of the command.''

{| class="wikitable sortable" ! Rank !! Name !! Post-nominals !! Period |- | colspan="4" align="center" bgcolor="white" | '''HQ Eastern Area Command''' ''(Air Officers Commanding)'' |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|William|Anderson|William Anderson (RAAF officer)}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|CBE,|DFC}} || 1942–1943 |- | Air Commodore || {{sortname|Alan|Charlesworth}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|CBE,|AFC}} || 1943–1944 |- | Air Commodore || {{sortname|Francis|Lukis|Frank Lukis}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|CBE}} ||1945–1946 |- | Air Commodore || {{sortname|Leon|Lachal}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|CBE}} || 1946–1947 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Francis|Bladin|Frank Bladin}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|CBE}} || 1947–1948 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|John|McCauley}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|CB,|CBE}} || 1949–1953 |- | colspan="4" align="center" bgcolor="white" | '''HQ Home Command''' ''(Air Officers Commanding)'' |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|John|McCauley|nolink=1}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|CB,|CBE}} || 1953–1954 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Allan|Walters}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|CB,|CBE,|AFC}} || 1954–1957 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Charles|Candy|Charles Candy (RAAF officer)}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|CB,|CBE}} || 1958–1959 |- | colspan="4" align="center" bgcolor="white" | '''HQ Operational Command''' ''(Air Officers Commanding)'' |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Valston|Hancock}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|CB,|CBE,|DFC}} || 1959–1961 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Frank|Headlam}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|CB,|CBE}} || 1961–1962 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Alister|Murdoch}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|CB,|CBE}} || 1962–1965 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Colin|Hannah}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|CB,|CBE}} || 1965–1967 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Keith|Hennock}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|CB,|CBE}} || 1967–1969 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|William|Townsend|William Townsend (RAAF officer)}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|CB,|CBE}} || 1969–1973 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Brian|Eaton}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|CB,|CBE,|DSO1,|DFC}} || 1973 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Frederick|Robey}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AO,|CBE}} || 1974–1978 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|John|Adams|John Adams (RAAF officer)}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|CBE,|DFC,|AFC}} || 1978–1980 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Michael|Ridgway}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AFC}} || 1980–1981 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Russell|Law}} || || 1981–1984 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Bernard|Reynolds|Bernard Reynolds (RAAF officer)}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}} || 1984–1985 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Edward|Radford}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AO}} || 1985–1987 |- | colspan="4" align="center" bgcolor="white" | '''Air Headquarters Australia''' ''(Air Commanders Australia)'' |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Edward|Radford|nolink=1}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AO}} || 1987–1990 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Barry|Gration}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AO,|AFC}} || 1990–1992 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Gary|Beck|Gary Beck (RAAF officer)}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AO}} || 1992–1996 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Peter|Nicholson|Peter Nicholson (RAAF officer)}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AO}} || 1996–1996 |- | colspan="4" align="center" bgcolor="white" | '''Headquarters Air Command''' ''(Air Commanders Australia)'' |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Peter|Nicholson|nolink=1}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AO}} || 1996–1998 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Alan|Titheridge}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}} || 1998–1999 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Peter|Criss|Peter Criss (RAAF officer)}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM,|AFC}} || 1999–2000 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|John|Kindler}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AO,|AFC}} || 2000–2003 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Geoffrey|Shepherd|Geoff Shepherd}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}} || 2003–2005 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|John|Quaife}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}} || 2005–2007 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Mark|Binskin}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}} || 2007–2008 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Mark|Skidmore}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}} || 2008–2012 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Melvin|Hupfeld|Mel Hupfeld}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|DSC}} || 2012–2014 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Gavin|Turnbull}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}} || 2014–2017 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Steve|Roberton}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|DSC,|AM}} || 2017–2019 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Joe|Iervasi}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM,|CSC}} || 2019–2022 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Darren|Goldie}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM,|CSC}} || 2022–2023 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Glen|Braz}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM,|CSC,|DSM}} || 2023–2026 |- | Air Vice Marshal || {{sortname|Harvey|Reynolds}} || {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}} || 2026– |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Portal|Military of Australia|Royal Australian Air Force|Aviation}} {{ADF Leadership}}

Air Command Category:Military units and formations established in 1942