The Australian Defence Force Academy
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Our People
Commandant ADFA
Commodore Bruce Kafer joined the Royal Australian Navy as a Cadet Midshipman in 1977. After initial seaman officer training he specialised in hydrographic surveying and, on completion of his basic survey course, served in hydrographic survey ships of the RAN and Royal Navy.
COMMODORE Bruce Kafer AM, CSC, RAN
Highlights of Commodore Kafer’s seagoing career have been his commands of the RAN survey ships HMAS FLINDERS and HMAS LEEUWIN, and his two-year exchange posting with the Royal Navy. He also saw active service in the Persian Gulf on two occasions: initially during the Iran/Iraq war, when he participated in mine clearance operations whilst with the Royal Navy; and in 2008-09, when he had command of two coalition maritime task forces (Combined Task Forces 158 and 152) responsible for security and interception operations in the Gulf.
Commodore Kafer has also had a variety of senior staff appointments ashore. He served for four years as Hydrographer of Australia and Commander of the RAN’s Hydrographic, Meteorological and Oceanographic Force Element Group. More recently he was the Chief, Combat Support Group in Fleet Headquarters. In December 2009 he assumed duties as Commandant, Australian Defence Force Academy.
In 2005 Commodore Kafer was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross for services to hydrography, and in 2008 he was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for his services as Chief, Combat Support Group.
Commodore Kafer is married to Geraldine; they have two adult sons.
Director ADFA Undergraduates
The Director ADFA Undergraduates is responsible for the military education and training of the Midshipmen and Officer Cadets.
Group Captain Sheldon Kimber
Group Captain Kimber was born in Brisbane, Queensland. He commenced his Air Force career as an aircraft technician in 1976. Following two years duty serving in 12 Squadron he was appointed as a Ground Defence Officer and selected to undertake training at the Army Officer Cadet School Portsea, graduating in 1980.
Group Captain Kimber initially served as a Training Flight Commander at No.1 Recruit training Unit, before becoming a Rifle Flight Commander at No.2 Airfield Defence Squadron.
The additional training roles he has undertaken include being Chief Instructor at the Air Force Combat Survival School, and both Chief Instructor and Commanding Officer at the Air Force Security and Fire School.
Group Captain Kimber’s staff experience includes: Capability Development in Air Force and Army Force Development; Air Plans Officer in Australian Defence Force Strategic Operations Division; Deputy Director Governance and Planning in Air Force Headquarters; Planning and Development within the United States Strategic Command in Omaha Nebraska; and as Staff Officer Policy to the Chief of Defence Force.
His operational experience includes serving in No. 2 Airfield Defence Squadron, Commanding the Airfield Defence Wing, and he has served in the Middle East in a number of roles working for the Multi National Force HQ, United States Central Command and United States Strategic Command.
Group Captain Kimber holds a Graduate Diploma in Management, and an MBA. He is also a graduate of the Air Force Command and Staff College.
He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1999 for achievement as a staff officer and Commanding Officer, and holds a number of Foreign Military awards including the US Bronze Star Medal.
Group Captain Kimber was promoted to Group Captain in January 2008, taking up the role of Director of Military Recruiting for the Australian Defence Force, before serving as Chief of Staff at the Australian Defence College from January 2010. He was posted to his current position of Deputy Commandant of the Australian Defence Force Academy in January 12.
Outside of work, Group Captain Kimber enjoys rugby and cricket, playing golf, and keeping physically fit. He is married to Susanne and has two adult children.
Chief Instructor
The Chief Instructor is responsible for delivering military training that gives midshipmen and officer cadets the knowledge and skills, and promotes the values and attitudes required by the three Services. This is achieved through delivery of the ADFA Military Education and Training program and coordination of the Single Service Training program.
Lieutenant Colonel Bradley Scott Kilpatrick
Lieutenant Colonel (LTCOL) Kilpatrick was born on 20 June 1973 in Ferntree Gully Victoria, and entered Royal Military College – Duntroon in 1992. LTCOL Kilpatrick graduated to the Royal Australian Armoured Corps in 1993 and upon completing his Regimental Officers Basic Course, was posted to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment as a Cavalry Troop Leader for two years before becoming the Unit Personnel Officer.
In 1997 he was promoted to CAPT and assumed Second in Command of a Cavalry Squadron in 1998 before being posted to B Squadron 3/4 Cavalry Regiment (APC) as the Operations Officer in 1999, and assumed the additional responsibilities of the Second in Command of the Squadron later in the year. In 2001 he was posted to Royal Military College – Duntroon as an Instructor of First Class, Package Master of leadership and assistant Package Master for tactics.
LTCOL Kilpatrick returned to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment in 2003 as the Operations Officer and was promoted to MAJ. In 2004 he was selected to command B Squadron 2nd Cavalry Regiment.
LTCOL Kilpatrick completed a Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Studies with Deakin University in 2005 and graduated from Australian Command and Staff College in 2006. In 2007 he was posted to Royal Military College – Duntroon as the Senior Instructor War Fighting and Officer Commanding Field Training. LTCOL Kilpatrick assumed the position of Deputy Chief Instructor at Royal Military College – Duntroon in 2008. Upon promotion to LTCOL in 2009 he was posted to the Directorate of Officer Career Management – Army as the SO1 Operations. In 2010, he assumed the position of SO1 Joint Amphibious Capability Implementation Team in Army Headquarters.
LTCOL Kilpatrick has been fortunate enough to deploy on four operations. He deployed to East Timor as the Second in Command of B Squadron 3/4 Cavalry Regiment with INTERFET in 1999. He deployed to Bosnia on OP OSIER in 2002, where he served with the 1st Battalion Royal Scots as the Joint Military Affairs Officer. In 2005 LTCOL Kilpatrick was appointed as the Operations Officer for the first Al Muthanna Task Group (AMTG) deployment as part of OP CATALYST, and was awarded a Commander Joint Operations Commendation for the performance of his duties. In 2009 LTCOL Kilpatrick deployed to Afghanistan with OP SLIPPER as the Deputy Director of the Counterinsurgency Training Centre and was awarded a Meritorious Service Medal by the United States.
In 2010 LTCOL Kilpatrick was selected to be the Chief Instructor and Commanding Officer of the Australian Defence Force Academy and he commenced the appointment in 2011.
Executive Officer Cadets
The Executive Officer Cadets is responsible for the day to day administration, discipline and command of the midshipmen and officer cadets and other military personnel undertaking full-time tertiary study at the Academy.
Commander Shane Craig
Shane was born in Naracoorte, South Australia and moved to Morgan on the Murray River where he completed his schooling before joining the RAN as an apprentice Airframe and Engine technician in 1982. After completing his training in HMAS Nirimba he enjoyed postings to 723 Squadron and HMA Ships Adelaide and Stalwart.
Shane graduated from the Naval College in 1990, having been appointed the College Captain and being awarded the College Medal for exemplary performance. He was then posted to the School of Air Navigation in RAAF East Sale for Observer training. Awarded his wings in 1991, Shane graduated as Dux of course and was also awarded trophies for Leadership Qualities, Best Practical Navigator and the Australian Institute of Navigation Prize for maintaining a Distinction average throughout course.
Shane was posted to the Seahawk Introduction and Training Unit in 1991 and was a member of 816 Squadron’s commissioning crew. He subsequently completed postings to HMA Ships Canberra and Darwin, as 816 Squadron Operations Officer; and was a member of HMAS Anzac’s commissioning crew. On exchange with the Royal Navy he completed Helicopter Warfare Instructor’s Course, a subsequent conversion to Sea King and a posting to 814 Squadron as the Squadron Warfare Instructor. During his posting, 814 Squadron was embarked in HMS Invincible and completed operational deployments to the Middle East and with NATO during the Kosovo Crisis. Whilst serving in HMS Invincible Shane was awarded the Royal Navy’s Robert Sandison Trophy for his contribution to warfare and tactics.
On return to Australia the then LEUT Craig was posted to the Aviation HQ before returning to 816 Squadron as the Operations Officer. From 2002 until 2004 LCDR Craig was posted to HMAS Melbourne and Sydney as Flight Commander, completing a further two operational deployments to the Middle East Area of Operations. In 2004 he was appointed as Executive Officer of 816 Squadron and subsequently graduated from Australian Command and Staff College. He has since been awarded a Masters in Maritime Studies (Leadership) from the University of Wollongong.
CMDR Craig then held Headquarters staff appointments before being appointed as Commanding Officer, 816 Squadron. He commanded 816 Squadron in 2010 and 2011, during which time the squadron was twice awarded the McNichol trophy for the squadron or unit foremost in all aspects of operations, safety, reliability and unit level training.
CMDR Craig began his tenure at the Australian Defence Force Academy on 23 Jan 2012 and looks forward to his role mentoring and developing young Officers.
Shane is married to Anne and has four sons – three of whom are serving in the ADF. Shane and Anne maintain their close ties to the Naval Aviation community and the South Coast of New South Wales where they enjoy waterskiing, motorbike riding and small acreage farming.
Academy Sergeant Major
The Academy Sergeant Major is responsible for the maintenance of military standards of discipline, dress and bearing by all uniformed personnel, and the provision of advice on the Defence Force Discipline Act and ceremonial matters.
Warrant Officer Dave Devlin
Warrant Officer Dave Devlin was born in Subiaco, Western Australia and raised in Perth’s southern suburbs. He enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) at HMAS LEEUWIN as a Junior Recruit in 1982. As a Stores Naval Sailor he served in a number of HMA Ships and establishments including; CERBERUS, PLATYPUS, MORESBY, CESSNOCK and HS723 Squadron.
Transferring to the Coxswain Category (Later called the Naval Police Coxswain category) in 1989 and posted to HMAS NIRIMBA he later saw two periods of operational service in HMAS DARWIN during the Gulf War in 1990-1992, during which he received a Commanding Officers Commendation. He later went on to achieve his Minor War Vessel Navigation Qualification and served in a range of Fremantle Class Patrol Boats as a Naval Police Coxswain and Officer of the Watch. He was promoted to Chief Petty Officer in 1999 and served as the Whole Ship Co-Ordinator in HMA Ships, BRISBANE, CANBERRA and ANZAC, collecting a further two Commanding Officer’s Commendations and completed additional operational service to the Solomon Islands in 2001 and; the North Arabian Gulf in 2002.
Dave was promoted to Warrant Officer in 2006 and took up the position as the Officer in Charge of the Fleet Base West Police Office at HMAS STIRLING. He was selected as the Ships Warrant Officer for HMAS TOOWOOMBA in 2008 and completed a highly successful operational deployment to the Middle East Area of Operations for Operation Slipper, which included the RAN’s first anti piracy patrols. He was selected as the Academy Sergeant Major at ADFA in January 2011.
Dave enjoys a busy and active lifestyle, along with his passion for AFL Football (all things Essendon), Cricket, Rugby Union and Tennis. He has four children from his first marriage and currently resides with his wife, Mandy, in the ACT. Dave and Mandy have a daughter, Jorja, born in 2010.
