Seattle, Washington, United States
I completed a 20 year career in the Royal Australian Air Force as an Officer in the Air Defence Branch. I completed operational and instructural postings at several ground based air defence units, as well as a three year exchange with the USN as an instructor on E-2C Hawkeye AEW&C aircraft. After this tour, I was posted to Russell Offices in Canberra as the sponsor for the progression of approximately $5B in major capital equipment air defence related projects, including the Wedgetail AEW&C project. My last two postings were Operations Officer duties for the Air Defence Wing at RAAF Williamtown and Commanding Officer of the newly reformed No. 2 Squadron. On completion of my RAAF career in 2001, I joined Boeing Australia as a Business Development and Operations Manager, located at RAAF Base Williamtown. In this role, I was responsible for customer engagement, transition planning, operations management and C4ISR business growth at the Base. Also assigned responsibility as Boeing Australia Site Manager for AEW&C Support Centre construction activities at Williamtown and business development activities associated with the 737 AEW&C Product line and regional C4I opportunities. I was also the Capture Team Leader for the HQIADS C2 Program, AsA VHF communications project and the Korean E-X AEW&C Project.
Operations support for Wedgetail 737 AEW&C Flight Test Team
Business Development Manager for C3I Programs
I joined the RAAF in 1981 and completed a 20 year career as an Officer in the Air Defence Branch. In the first half of my career, I was assigned to a number of different operational and instructional positions. I qualified as an advanced fighter controller and was also qualified as an instructor on RAAF air defence systems, USAF missile defence warning systems and the USN E-2C AEW&C aircraft. In the second half of my career, I was responsible for progressing a number of new surveillance and control capabilities through the Force Development process in Canberra. New capabilities included AIR5397 (Tactical Coms), AIR5375 (Ground Based Tactical Air Defence Radars), Vigilare (Ground Based C3I System) and Wedgetail AEW&C. I was also the key architect of the ADF’s Air Defence System Operations Plan and the Wedgetail Concept of Operations. In my last assignment I was selected as the first Commanding Officer of the reformed No. 2 SQN, responsible for transition into service activities.