Defence

The official magazine

May 2005

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Command change

The Federal Government has announced new command arrangements for the Australian Defence Force that will take effect from July 2005.

Defence Minister Robert Hill has announced the appointment of Vice Admiral Russ Shalders as the new Chief of Navy and Air Vice Marshal Geoffrey Shepherd as the new Chief of Air Force. Major General Ken Gillespie will be promoted to Lieutenant General and will be the new Vice Chief of the Defence Force.

Currently the Air Commander, AVM Shepherd will replace Air Marshal Angus Houston, who has been promoted to Chief of Defence Force.

"Air Vice Marshal Shepherd has had a distinguished career as a fighter pilot on Mirage and F-111 aircraft, as well as senior command appointments in the operations and intelligence fields," Senator Hill said.

The outgoing Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie will retire in July 2005, after 40 years in the service.

"Vice Admiral Ritchie has commanded the RAN during a period of very high operational tempo," Senator Hill said. "The Government and the Australian people congratulate Vice Admiral Ritchie on a distinguished career, and wish him well in his retirement."

Senator Hill said LTGEN Leahy will continue as Chief of Army.

"Lieutenant General Leahy has provided excellent leadership for the Army at a time of high operational tempo. He has also led important work on the Hardening and Networking the Army initiative," Senator Hill said.

"I congratulate the incoming Service Chiefs, and I am confi dent that they will carry on the excellent work of their predecessors, which was in the finest traditions of the Australian Defence Force."

In the Middle East

Senator Hill also recently announced that Commodore Geoff Ledger will replace Air Commodore Greg Evans as Commander of the Australian Forces in the Middle East Area of Operations.

Based in Baghdad, Commodore Ledger will lead around 1370 Australian Defence Force personnel on active service in the Middle East in support of Coalition rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in Iraq. This includes the recently deployed Al Muthanna Task Group.

In announcing the appointment, Senator Hill said Commodore Ledger had consistently demonstrated a capacity to operate in conditions of adversity throughout a career that began as an aircrew trainee in 1972.

"He was involved in the clean up following Cyclone Tracy, flew helicopters for the United Nations Emergency Force in Egypt and was awarded the Silver Commendation Medal by the Singaporean Government," Senator Hill said.

Senator Hill also praised Air Commodore Evans for his command and leadership of Australian force elements in the Middle East over the past six months, describing them as "very trying conditions during a period when insurgent attacks were becoming a regular occurrence."

Images from Al Muthanna Province are featured on the inside back cover of this month's magazine.

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In the know

Don't miss out on the latest news, events and publications! Here are some of the most recent:

DPE

• Professional Development and Training - Administration Manual. This is the principal reference document for the administration of PD&T, and includes Defence business rules, processes, definitions, protocols and principles for stakeholders, user groups, module administrators and transactors. For more information, contact Directorate of Training Systems Policy.
• Report into the Review of the Australian Defence Force Redress of Grievance System. The report, which has been considered by CDF, the Defence Force Ombudsman and the Service Chiefs, makes many practical recommendations with respect to legislation, policy, improving process, performance management and reporting, organisation and structure, information systems and management, staffing and implementation. For more information, contact Defence Personnel Executive.

VCDF

• Australian Defence Doctrine Publication (ADDP) 06.4 - Law of Armed Conflict. The publication outlines the principles and application of the law of armed conflict in a range of operational situations, and the commander's and individual responsibilities in upholding the law. For more information, contact Directorate of Operations and International Law.

DMO

• ASDEFCON (Complex Materiel) Version 2.0 has been released. It is for use when undertaking complex acquisitions of equipment and supplies and is designed to ensure that Defence contractors deliver on time, on budget and to the required safety, quality and capability. An accompanying handbook for Defence personnel will be released shortly. For more information, contact Contracting - General Counsel division.
• DMO Workforce Plan 2004-2009 and DMO People Plan 2015 address human capability requirements over the next ten years to achieve DMO goals and the CEO's six themes through promotion of effective personnel management strategies. For more information, contact Materiel People and Performance branch.

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Head shed

Recent senior promotions, appointments and news.

CIO

• Air Commodore David Richards has been promoted to the position of Director General, Information Policy and Plans in the CIO Group with effect from 23 March. AIRCDRE Richards replaces Mr Ewart Challis who has been acting in the position.
• Applications Development branch in Information Systems division has been reorganised in accordance with the Boston Consulting Group's study into organisational arrangements in Defence's information environment. The branch will have six systems development directorates and three directorates responsible for the delivery of internal services across the branch.

DMO

• Aerospace Systems Division has been reorganised to accommodate four new branches; Airlift and Training Systems, Aerospace Maritime and Surveillance Systems, Navy Aviation Systems and Army Aviation Systems, in addition to the existing Aerospace Combat Systems and Aerospace Material Management branches.

DPE

• The Minister for Defence, Senator Hill, announced on 6 May the appointment and promotions of Air Commodore Tony Austin to Head of Defence Health Services and Commodore Graeme Shirtley to Surgeon General. AIRCDRE Austin has been promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshal, and Commodore Shirtley to Rear Admiral.

CPA

• Coordination, Governance and Renewal branch has been renamed Corporate Governance and Renewal (CGR). Coordination Directorate has moved from CGR branch to Ministerial and Executive Support branch, while the SEC/CDF Group business management cell has moved to CGR branch.

DIO

• Dr Paul Taloni has become the Deputy Director, DIO, a position re-created in accordance with the recommendations of the Flood Report. The position provides direct support to DDIO across a wide range of activities.

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Calendar

May 27
Working with Government

The Results through People Network is sponsoring a presentation by Mr Brenton Holmes, Senior Clerk of Committees in the Senate, on parliamentary processes and working with government. The presentation will be held at 1400 in the R1 theatrette in Canberra.
For further information:
(02) 6265 4512

June 20-22
Getting down to Business

Australia's premier Defence and Industry event will be held at the National Convention Centre in Canberra. The conference will incorporate presentations and workshops on issues concerning defence capability and procurement. For further information:
(02) 6265 5638 John Oaten
john.oaten@defence.gov.au

June 21-24
Warrior Demo

The Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration is holding a visitors' week at DSTO's Fern Hill Park Command and Control Systems Battle Laboratory. Visitors will be able to observe and interact with the demonstration initiatives. Visitors must hold a SECRET clearance.
For further information, consult the CWID Visitor Information Guide at: http://intranet.defence.gov.au/CWID

July 21-22
History of Sea Power

The Sea Power Centre-Australia is holding the King-Hall Naval History Conference at the National Convention Centre in Canberra. This year's theme is 'Sea Power Ashore and in the Air' and the conference will explore how various nations and commanders have used sea power to prosecute, infl uence, and support military operations across the joint battlespace. For further information, contact: Conference Coordinator, Sea Power Centre - Australia: http://www.navy.gov.au/spc/

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Spell it out

These days, the world is full of acronyms and Defence is no different. Previous issues have highlighted some of the more obscure acronyms. This month, it's time to look at the many incarnations of two old favourites:

SME

Subject Matter Expert

School of Military Engineering

Shuttle Main Engine

Small to Medium Enterprise

Society of Manufacturing Engineers

Society of Mechanical Engineers

Solar Mesosphere Explorer

Special Mission Equipment

Specialist Military Equipment

Significant Military Equipment

Surface Movement Element

Squadron Medical Element

Strategic Military Estimate

DCP

Defence Capability Plan

Defence Cooperation Program

Director of Clinical Policy

Document Change Proposal

Document Control Plan

Design Change Proposal

Data Communications Processor

Digital Communications Protocol

Display and Control Panel

Development Concept Paper

Defence Cryptological Program

Decision Coordination Paper

Design Certification Plan

CIO provides the Defence Language Management System to make your life easier at http://dlms.dcb.defence.gov.au/. DSTO also has an acronym database at http://web-vic.dsto.defence.gov.au/dsto/directories/acronyms/.

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