Our day to celebrate
Australia Day 2005 – while the ADF provided outstanding entertainment throughout the country, its members were recognised for outstanding achiements both here and overseas.

Gallery

Officer in the military division of the order of Australia

Officer (AO) in the military division of the order of Australia

Air Vice-Marshal Kerry Clarke

For distinguished service in the fields of international relationships and capability management and development.

Air Vice-Marshal Clarke has consistently demonstrated outstanding leadership and management throughout his career in the RAAF. He is an outstanding leader, manager and diplomat with exceptional enthusiasm, energy and innovation.

He has applied these talents to achieve very significant benefits for both the ADF and Australia in his recent postings as the Commander of the Integrated Area Defence System in Malaysia and Head of Capability Systems.

 

 

 

Member in the military division of the order of Australia

Member (AM) in the military division of the order of Australia

Air Commodore Rodney Luke

For exceptional service to the RAAF, particularly in the fields of engineering, project development and training.

Air Commodore Luke’s performance has been exceptional. His professionalism and dedication for the morale and well being of his people won their respect, loyalty and support.

He demonstrated dedication, inspirational leadership and excellent command skills, and has set the conditions for the future success of Air Force conducted joint and single service training. AIRCDRE Luke’s performance is in the finest traditions of the RAAF and the ADF.

 

Group Captain Anthony Needham

For exceptional service as the Director of Group Function Management, Air Force Headquarters and Director Personnel Officers – Air Force.

Group Captain Needham is an outstanding officer who has contributed significantly to the capability of the RAAF in his roles as Director Group Function Management – Air Force and Director Personnel Officers – Air Force.

He has shown excellent leadership, innovation and application in successfully developing and implementing improved processes and systems in areas as diverse as the workforce planning system, the Air Force Infrastructure Strategic Plan, and RAAF Safety System and personnel management.

 

Wing Commander John Teager

For exceptional service to the Royal Australian Air Force as a staff officer within Capability Development and CO Joint Electronic Warfare Operational Support Unit.

 

 

Medal (OAM) of the order of Australia in the military division

Medal (OAM) of the order of Australia in the military division

Warrant Officer Graeme Clark

For meritorious service to the RAAF in the development of the C-130J in the airborne operations role.

Warrant Officer Clark has provided outstanding service and set the best possible example in his role in developing tactics, checklists and procedures for the C-130J in the tactical environment.

His involvement and contribution to the development of a paratrooping capability on the C-130J and his efforts in training loadmasters provided a much-needed capability to the ADF.

His exceptional leadership, devotion to duty and selfless contribution to the development of the C-130J are in the finest traditions of the RAAF.

 

Warrant Officer Andrew Duff

For meritorious service as logistics engineer at the Training Aircraft System Program Office from January 1998 to April 2004, particularly his leadership in overcoming airworthiness issues with avionics systems on the PC-9 aircraft in 2003.

Warrant Officer Duff is an exceptional technical warrant officer who consistently displays professionalism, leadership and dedication in providing logistics support for the avionics of the HS748 and PC-9 aircraft fleets.

In particular, WOFF Duff coordinated recovery of the PC-9 fleet during 2003 when on four separate occasions avionics systems exhibited significant failure modes warranting urgent fleet-wide correction. His actions ensured airworthiness was maintained and the impact on PC-9 operations was minimised.

 

 

Commendation for distinguished service

Commendation for distinguished service

Air Commodore Mark Binskin

For distinguished performance of duties in warlike operations as the Director of the Coalition Combined Air Operations Centre in the MEAO during Op Catalyst.

Air Commodore Binskin was deployed to the Coalition Combined Air Operations Centre as the first RAAF senior officer to be appointed as the director.

Recognising the need for all key Centre players to collaborate on a common secure information system, AIRCDRE Binskin drove the effort to move key processes onto the coalition wide-area communications network.

AIRCDRE Binskin is an exceptional ambassador who has earned great respect from all coalition members with whom he has worked.

Through his outstanding leadership, superior skills and knowledge, he has set the benchmark for the prosecution of combined air operations in the Iraq theatre. His performance is of the highest order and in keeping with the finest traditions of the RAAF and the ADF.

 

 

Conspicuous service cross (CSC)

Conspicuous service cross (CSC)

Wing Commander Graeme Davies

For outstanding achievement as Deputy Director Logistics Explosive Ordnance, particularly in the fields of ordnance safety and capability.

Wing Commander Davies has achieved outstanding results in explosive ordnance safety and capability enhancement. His leadership, foresight, dedication and inspiration have ensured that the RAAF has a sustainable and effective explosive ordnance capability.

He has put in place the policy framework, employment specialisation and capability to ensure the RAAF and ADF can safely and effectively employ explosive ordnance to meet Australia’s current and future needs.

Group Captain Noel Derwort

For outstanding achievement as the CO of No. 34 Squadron, particularly during the introduction of the special purpose aircraft fleet.

Group Captain Derwort has introduced the Boeing Business Jet and Challenger 604 aircraft into service at No. 34 Squadron on time, as well as retiring the Falcon 900 aircraft while maintaining very high levels of service to Government.

He achieved this at a time of increasing international tension and high demand for special purpose aircraft tasking. He has demonstrated outstanding leadership, great initiative and selfless dedication. His performance has been in the highest traditions of the RAAF.

Squadron Leader David Hombsch

For outstanding achievement as a tactical coordinator, instructor and training flight commander at No. 92 Wing.

Squadron Leader Hombsch’s exceptional loyalty and commitment have dramatically improved the level of capability at No. 92 Wing. His outstanding dedication in training both individual navigators and squadron crews has ensured that the aircrew of No. 92 Wing are fully prepared for any operation, while he has also maintained his own performance at the highest level.

His performance has been consistently outstanding, and in keeping with the finest traditions of the RAAF.

Group Captain John Samulski

For outstanding achievement in the performance of duty as the CO of No. 36 Squadron.

Group Captain Samulski has made an exceptional contribution to the development of the airlift forces of the RAAF. As No. 36 Squadron CO, he displayed an exemplary standard of leadership of deployed forces and played the lead role in the introduction of new airlift capabilities.

His enthusiasm, commitment and professional knowledge have provided an inspiring example to all members of his squadron and the wider Air Lift Group community.

Air Commodore Noel Schmidt

For outstanding achievement in the performance of duty as Director General Technical Airworthiness – Australian Defence Force.

Air Commodore Schmidt has consistently demonstrated outstanding engineering skill and leadership. Highly intelligent, he has applied all of his talents to achieve very significant benefits for both the RAAF and the ADF.

He is also an engineer who can reduce the most complex engineering issues to their fundamental parts and clearly communicate the way forward to all. He is considered by his peers to be one of the top engineers in Australia.

Wing Commander Stephen Winterton

For outstanding achievement as the staff officer in the Aerospace Systems Division of the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO).

Wing Commander Winterton has applied his excellent professional knowledge, leadership and boundless energy to improve logistics within the RAAF and the Defence Materiel Organisation.

In particular, his work and initiatives helped to improve the professional structure and career opportunities for logistics personnel in the RAAF. In addition, he was influential in guiding the development of robust logistics support systems and was largely responsible for improving accountability for Defence aerospace assets.

 

 

Conspicuous service medal (CSM)

Conspicuous service medal (CSM)

Corporal Adam Campbell

For outstanding service as the ground maintenance systems administrator at No. 37 Squadron, particularly in the field of information systems and data management for C-130J aircraft.

Corporal Campbell has performed pivotal work in the field of C-130J data systems. His development work on the ground maintenance system used to support C-130J maintenance has been first class, and has directly led to improvements that are now in use at No. 37 Squadron and by several foreign operators of the C- 130J aircraft.

CPL Campbell’s exceptional standards of professionalism, organisation and commitment are in keeping with the finest traditions of the RAAF.

Flight Lieutenant Robert Riva

For outstanding service as an aeronautical design engineer at the Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU), particularly in the field of combat capability. Details not available.

Warrant Officer Peter Ryter

For outstanding service as the Deputy Flight Engineer Leader and Assistant Squadron Warrant Officer at No. 38 Squadron Detachment B.

Warrant Officer Ryter has provided outstanding leadership of the airman force and invaluable advice and support to his superiors during the difficult transition following the deactivation of No. 35 Squadron and formation of No. 38 Squadron Detachment B. WO Ryter has set the highest professional standards and has contributed immensely to restoring confidence in the Caribou capability.

Flight Sergeant Daniel Stack

For outstanding service as a career manager in the Directorate of Personnel – Airmen.

Flight Sergeant Stack has risen to every challenge presented to him in an outstanding manner. In his pursuit of excellence, he demonstrated exceptional commitment, flexibility, adaptability, innovation, dedication and organisation skills during his posting to the Directorate of Personnel – Airmen.

His efforts have significantly enhanced both the home and working environments of his peers, and he displayed exceptional skills as both a career manager and mentor.

FSGT Stack was an inspiration to all and his performance has brought great credit on himself, the Directorate and the Royal Australian Air Force.

For the full Australia Day honours list, go to www.itsanhonour.gov.au.

Gallery

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