Senior Australian Defence Organisation Positions

This page provides a list of Senior Australian Defence Organisation Positions, and includes access to information about past occupants of these positions. For information about current occupants of these positions, see Current senior Australian Defence Organisation personnel.

The Australian Defence Organisation (ADO) consists of both the uniformed military, known as the Australian Defence Force (ADF), and the civilian Department of Defence, which includes a number of civilian support organisations. Nominally, the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) heads the ADF, and the Secretary (of the Department of Defence) heads the civilian organisations, but in fact, they jointly manage the Australian Defence Organisation under a "diarchy", and both report directly to the Minister for Defence.

Since 19xx, the highest active rank in the Australian Defence Force is reserved for the CDF. This is a four-star rank and the CDF is the only Australian officer at that level. As a result of the diarchy, the Secretary of the Department of Defence is of an equivalent level.

This page provides access to information about senior ADO positions (both civilian and military) at the equivalent four-, three-, and, where useful, two- and one-star levels.

Five-star level
In current Australian circumstances, the five-star level is not an active rank.

Four-star level
At present there are two positions at the four-star level: the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) and the Secretary of the Department of Defence (SECDEF). The SECDEF is a civilian position which is of equal status to the military's four-star ranks.

Three-star level
Abbreviations: DEPSEC - Deputy Secretary

People at the three-star (or equivalent) level are:

The Vice Chief of the Defence Force (VCDF)

Chiefs of the branches of the armed services:
 * Chief of Navy (CN)
 * Chief of Army (CA)
 * Chief of Air Force (CAF)

Senior Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) Leaders:
 * CEO of the DMO
 * General Manager Systems
 * General Manager Programs
 * General Manager Corporate

Heads or Chiefs of the various support organisations:
 * Capability: Chief Capability Development Group
 * Finance: Chief Finance Officer (CFO)
 * Information: Chief Information Officer (CIO)
 * Intelligence: DEPSEC Intelligence, Security and International Policy
 * Operations: Chief of Joint Operations (CJOPS)
 * Personnel: DEPSEC People Strategies and Policy
 * Science & Technology: Chief Defence Scientist (CDS), (Head of the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO))
 * Strategy: DEPSEC Strategy, Coordination and Governance
 * Support: DEPSEC Defence Support

Two-star level
Abbreviations: FAS - First Assistant Secretary

Capability Development
 * FAS, Capability Investment and Resources
 * Head, Capability Systems (HCS)
 * at least one other

Finance

Information (CIO Group)
 * Chief Technology Officer (CTO - civilian)
 * FAS Information and Communications Technology Development
 * Head Information and Communications Technology Operations
 * FAS Information and Communications Technology Reform

Intelligence, Security and International Policy
 * Director, Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO)
 * Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation (DIGO)
 * Defence Signals Directorate (DSD)
 * Defence Security Authority (DSA)
 * International Policy Division (IP)
 * Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Branch (ISR)
 * Business Management - Intelligence Branch (BM-I)

Operations
 * Commander, Border Protection
 * Commander, Joint Logistics (CJLOG)
 * Deputy Commander Joint Operations (DCJOPS)
 * Commander of Australian Forces in the MEAO (Middle East Area of Operations)

People Strategies and Policy
 * Head, Defence Personnel Executive (HDPE)
 * FAS, Personnel

Strategy, Coordination and Governance
 * Head, Strategic Policy
 * Head Military Strategic Commitments
 * FAS, Policy Development
 * FAS, Coordination and Public Affairs
 * FAS, Governance and Implementation

Support
 * Head, Defence Health
 * Head, Personnel Services
 * Head, National Operations
 * Head, Defence Legal
 * Head, Infrastructure
 * Chief Operating Officer (COO)

VCDF

DJFHQ (Deployable Joint Forces Headquarters)
 * Commander DJFHQ(M) - Maritime
 * Commander DJFHQ(L) - Land - Double hatted with Commander 1Div
 * Commander DJFHQ(A) - Air

Navy
 * Deputy Chief of Navy (DCN)
 * Commander Australian Fleet (COMAUSFLT)

Army
 * Deputy Chief of Army (DCA)
 * Commander Forces Command (CFC)
 * Head of Modernisation and Strategic Planning - Army
 * Special Operations Commander, Australia
 * Commander, 1st Division
 * Commander, 2nd Division

Air Force
 * Deputy Chief of Air Force (DCAF)
 * Air Commander Australia (ACAUST)

Reserves:
 * Assistant Chief of the Defence Force (Reserves) and Head Reserve and Employer Support Division

DMO Systems: DMO Programs: DMO Corporate:
 * Head, Aerospace Systems Division (HASD)
 * Head, Electronic Systems Division (HESD)
 * Head, Maritime Systems Division (HMSD)
 * Head, Helicopter Systems Division (HHSD)
 * Head, Land Systems Division (HLSD)
 * Head, Explosive Ordnance Division (HEOD)
 * Program Manager - CW (Collins and Wedgetail)
 * Program Manager - NACC (New Air Combat Capability)
 * Program Manager - AWD (Air Warfare Destroyer)
 * Head, Industry Division
 * General Counsel
 * Chief Finance Officer - DMO
 * Head, Human Resources and Corporate Services

Other
 * Judge Advocate General (JAG)
 * Inspector-General ADF
 * Inspector-General

One-star level
Srategy, Coordination and Governance
 * Director-General Public Affairs

Chief of the Defence Force (CDF)
See Chief of the Defence Force

Secretary of Defence (SECDEF)
This is a civilian "four-star equivalent level" position.

Vice Chief of the Defence Force (VCDF)
See Vice Chief of the Defence Force

CEO of Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO)
See Defence Materiel Organisation

DEPSEC Defence Support
This is a civilian "three-star equivalent level" position.

DEPSEC Strategy
This is a civilian "three-star equivalent level" position which has had a variety of names. The current name of the position is "DEPSEC Strategy, Coordination and Governance"

Chief of Joint Operations (CJOPS)
See CJOPS

Chief, Capability Development Group (CCDG)
This is a "three-star" position which, to date, has been occupied by an ADF member.

Article under construction ...
