Female CO for 3CRU

By FLGOFF Georgina Lowe

WING Commander Krista Thompson has become the first female Commanding Officer of an operational Air Defence Unit within the Air Force.

WGCDR Thompson became Commanding Officer of No. 3 Control and Reporting Unit (3CRU) on December 12 last year, replacing WGCDR Ian Gibson.

Of her new command, WGCDR Thompson said, “The opportunity to command 3CRU is a great honour. I thoroughly enjoyed setting up and commanding No. 41WG’s training unit, Surveillance and Control Training Unit (SACTU), and was more than willing to accept command of an operational unit, especially 3CRU.

“3CRU has some unique challenges over the next few years as the unit beds down the new Tactical Air Defence Radar Systems, introduces the new Vigilare operating system and incorporates the Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft into our operations.”

“I am really pleased that the Air Force’s opportunities for rewarding and equitable careers are now becoming quite commonplace.”

An impressive career to date, WGCDR Thompson was the first person to successfully transfer from civil air traffic control to military air traffic control.

Following a career change to Air Defence, WGCDR Thompson completed several stints at 3CRU, including time as the inaugural Surveillance and Control Training Unit Commanding Officer.

WGCDR Thompson was later Deputy Director - Battlespace Management, where she helped develop the Defence Architectural Framework for Aerospace Surveillance and Battlespace Management.

Her most recent posting was as Executive Officer of HQ41WG.

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