When Sergeant Yuhang Ding arrived in Melbourne as a 17-year-old international student, he never imagined he would go on to represent Australia through a career in the Royal Australian Air Force.

“I always had a passion for aviation,” Sergeant Ding said.

“My father was in aviation, and when I was granted Australian citizenship, I knew I wanted to work with aircraft and join the military. The Air Force was an easy decision for me, and in my 17 years of service, I have never looked back.”

Now an electronic warfare technician at the Joint Electronics Warfare Operational Support Unit (JEWOSU), Sergeant Ding has built a career rich with technical expertise, leadership and meaningful service.

For Sergeant Ding, Defence has always been more than a job. It has been a passion grounded in contribution and purpose.

“What makes Defence special is the purpose of work – contributing to serving the nation and its people,” he said.

“There is a strong sense of achievement and high job satisfaction.”

He said it is this sense of meaning, combined with the unique opportunities Defence provides, that has kept him motivated throughout his career.

'The Air Force was an easy decision for me, and in my 17 years of service, I have never looked back.'

Beginning his career as an avionics technician, Sergeant Ding worked on AP-3C Orion and KC-30A multi-role tanker transport aircraft, eventually leading a highly skilled maintenance team at 33 Squadron.

His service included multiple operational and international deployments, including supporting several high-profile VIP missions.

One standout experience was being part of the 33 Squadron Government Transport crew responsible for transporting Australian national leaders overseas for strategic engagements.

Among the many missions, Sergeant Ding led the maintenance team that supported Australia’s attendance at the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in the United Kingdom and the state funeral in Japan for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. His team also supported attendance at key international forums, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) meetings.

“These experiences were incredibly unique,” he said.

“Working alongside a professional, highly motivated team was something I valued greatly.”

Sergeant Ding’s commitment to excellence saw him promoted to sergeant in 2022, where he continued to lead and mentor maintenance personnel at 33 Squadron before transitioning to his current role.

'There are many personal development and training opportunities delivered by Defence and that’s something I’ve really appreciated.'

He said Defence has offered him ongoing career development and growth throughout his service.

“There are many personal development and training opportunities delivered by Defence and that’s something I’ve really appreciated,” he said.

“The pay is competitive and I get to work with a team who have shared values, interests and common goals.”

Now posted to the JEWOSU, Sergeant Ding continues to support Australia’s capability through specialist work in the electronic warfare domain – a field critical to modern Defence operations.

With nearly two decades of service, Sergeant Ding remains proud of his decision to serve.

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