The Vice Chief of the Defence Force (VCDF) Air Marshal Mark Binskin AO is the military deputy to the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) and acts as the CDF in his absence under standing acting arrangements.

The VCDF role is to focus on Defence business at the strategic level, specifically on supporting the Government and CDF. The VCDF performs a number of key functions, including: developing policy guidance on future commitments to enable CDF to manage the operating tempo of the ADF, including liaison with other Government agencies, Allies and coalition partners at the strategic level; managing joint logistics; managing joint health, managing joint capabilities and providing input to joint capability development.

The VCDF Group consists of Military Strategic Commitments Division; Joint Logistics Command; Joint Health Command; Australian Defence College; Joint Capability Coordination Division; Cadet, Reserve and Employer Support Division; and the Australian Civil-Military Centre.

Legislation relevant to Defence and the VCDF Executive is available in the Defence Act 1903.