The CDF talks about ...

CDF ACM Angus Houston talks with Air Force newspaper on July 7.

Relaxation (other than climbing mountains): “I enjoy spending time with my wife and family.

“The kids have grown up now but it’s always good when they come home for a visit and I really enjoy spending time with them.”

Dealing with stress: “The best way I find to clear the mind and relax is to run. I spend a lot of time keeping fit – I occasionally go kayaking on [Canberra’s main] lake and used to kayak on the Nepean [River] and Sydney Harbour in previous jobs.

“I guess I would enjoy going downtown with my wife and having a quiet meal and a bottle of wine.”

What moves him: “I am always moved when I see some of the stories around me about what Australians have done, how they have contributed to a bunch of different circumstances – relief operations around the world, again I go back to the tsunami – the number of Australian volunteers I ran into when I visited Banda Aceh.

“It doesn’t matter where you go, you’ll find Australians doing great things.

“They do great things on the sporting field and they do great things to help people less well off than themselves.”

Who gives him a reality check? “My wife ... she’s been with me 30 years. She’s been a great support to me over the years - all of us need a reality check – she’s very direct and very frank and she’ll tell me whenever I need to be told.”

His role models: “I’ve taken a little bit of this, a little bit of that but what happens during 35 years of being in the Defence Force you see a lot of people, you see the very best leaders, you see some people who don’t lead so well, you take it all on board and you then form your own views.”

Will Air Force in the future need pilots? “In 30 years time, 2035, that will be in the middle of the life of the Joint Strike Fighter – yes, we will always need pilots but I imagine there will be a combination of pilots and UAVs in the future Air Force.”

The Mountainer

 

 

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