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The 'Vice Chief of the Defence Force (VCDF)' is the military deputy to the Chief of the Defence Force and acts as the Chief of the Defence Force in his absence under standing acting arrangements. When acting Chief of the Defence Force, the Vice Chief of the Defence Force attends the National Security Committee of Cabinet and Secretary’s Committee on National Security.
The Vice Chief of the Defence Force is the Chief of Joint Operations. In this role he commands Australian Defence Force operations on behalf of the Chief of the Defence Force. The Vice Chief of the Defence Force Executive consists of Joint Operations Command and Vice Chief of the Defence Force Executive Direct Command Units.
Joint Operations Command consists of Headquarters Joint Operations Command and Border Protection Command. The Direct Command Units consists of Military Strategic Commitments Division, incorporating the Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program; Reserve Policy Division; and the Command and Control Implementation Team.
It is a fixed term appointment of three years, and is ideally rotated between the three services (Navy, Army and Air Force). However in practice this has not been the case; for various reasons, the appointment has been held for longer or shorter periods of time.
The VCDF is a three-star officer in the ADF (Lieutenant General, Vice Admiral or Air Marshal).
The VCDF is appointed by the Governor General on the advice of his ministers under Section 9AA of the ''Defence Act (1903)''. The appointment is politically neutral, as are all military positions, and is not affected by a change of government.
The position of VCDF was created in 1986.

Contents

Vice Chief of the Defence Force

Vice Chief of the Defence Force

★ Air Marshal Raymond Funnell AO (June 1986 - January 1987)

★ Vice Admiral Ian Knox AO (January 1987 - September 1989)

★ Vice Admiral Alan Beaumont AC (September 1989 - October 1992)

★ Lieutenant General John Baker AC DSM (October 1992 - April 1995)

★ Vice Admiral Robert Walls AO (April 1995 - March 1997)

★ Vice Admiral Chris Barrie AC (March 1997 - July 1998)

★ Air Marshal Douglas Riding AO (July 1998 - July 2000)

★ Lieutenant General Desmond Mueller AO (July 2000 - July 2002)

★ Vice Admiral Russ Shalders AO CSC (July 2002 - July 2005)

★ Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie AO DSC CSM (July 2005 - present)