THE
first woman to attain a two-star rank in any of the services is
one of two people to be promoted to Air Vice-Marshal.
Commandant of ADFA Air Commodore Julie Hammer will be promoted
and appointed to the position of Deputy Chief Information Officer
with effect from August 11.
Director General Joint Operations and Plans Air Commodore Geoffrey
Shepherd will also be promoted and will become the next Air Commander
Australia from December 5.
“These promotions acknowledge the outstanding contributions
they have already made and will continue to make to the Australian
Defence Force,” said CDF General Peter Cosgrove upon announcing
the appointments.
AIRCDRE Hammer’s promotion honours a long list of achievements
since joining the Air Force in 1977.
As a junior officer at the Engineer Cadet Squadron, her skills
in the electrical engineering field were recognised with promotion
to Squadron Leader in 1985.
As a Wing Commander, AIRCDRE Hammer managed the P-3C ESM project
before becoming the first woman to command an operational unit
in the Air Force, the Electronic Warfare Squadron in 1992.
AIRCDRE Hammer is also one of Australia’s Honouring Women
Ambassadors.
AIRCDRE Shepherd began his Air Force service with the 1971 RAAF
Academy intake.
He has since flown around 4500 hours, 2500 of which were in the
F-111, an aircraft he has had a long association with.
AIRCDRE Shepherd was Training Flight Commander of No. 6 Squadron
until 1987 before being appointed Commanding Officer in 1990.
He also held command of No. 82 Wing from 1995.
