Leading Aircraftman Kyle Duncan, a personnel capability specialist at 294 Squadron, has been named Combat Support Group (CSG) Aviator of the Year 2025, receiving the prestigious title, trophy and a bronze commendation.

Leading Aircraftman Duncan distinguished himself through performance well beyond his rank, consistently demonstrating outstanding judgement, initiative and integrity in complex personnel and policy matters. His development of innovative systems during the Enterprise Resource Planning transition significantly enhanced situational awareness and organisational alignment.

Commander CSG Air Commodore Andrew McHugh presented the award on May 18, as CSG marked its 28th anniversary at RAAF Base Amberley’s Aviation Heritage Centre.

Leading Aircraftman Duncan grew up in Kahibah, NSW, and said the influence of family service shaped his path to the Air Force early on.

“As a child, I often heard stories about the camaraderie my grandmother experienced while serving in the control tower for the Women’s Australian Air Force,” he said. 

“Over time, I developed a deep admiration for what she achieved.”

An ADF expo in Year 10 cemented that ambition. Enlisting in July 2018, Leading Aircraftman Duncan initially trained as a communications electronic technician before re‑mustering to personnel capability specialist in 2019. He has since served across 3 Squadron, HQ 41 Wing, 3 Control and Reporting Unit, and HQ Surveillance and Response Group, and now supports health capability generation at 294 Squadron.

“I had a challenging start, particularly with confidence and self‑doubt,” he said.

“Working with outstanding people and supervisors helped me build resilience and reach my potential.”

'Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – you learn from them and build on them.'

Reflecting on the defining experiences of his career, Leading Aircraftman Duncan highlighted early deployments to Darwin with 3 Squadron and the Air Combat Group Resilience Course in the Blue Mountains, where he abseiled cliff faces and developed mindfulness strategies to manage pressure.

Beyond his technical role, he contributes strongly to squadron culture, from organising morale activities to documenting unit imagery.

Recently identified for promotion to corporal, he is focused on leadership. 

“My goal is to be a fair, dependable and approachable supervisor,” Leading Aircraftman Duncan said.

He credits his growth to a key lesson: “Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – you learn from them and build on them.”

Reflecting on the award, Leading Aircraftman Duncan said 294 Squadron has been the most rewarding posting of his career. 

“The medical training environment, along with the people, has made it an outstanding experience,” he said. 

“It’s an honour to represent 294 Squadron as its first member recognised as CSG Aviator of the Year.”