View source for Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)

{{Short description|Head of the Australian Defence Force}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox official post
| post                     = Chief 
| body                     = the Defence Force
| native_name              = 
| flag                     = Flag of Chief of the Defence Force (Australia).svg
| flagsize                 = 
| flagborder               = 
| flagcaption              = 
| insignia                 = 
| insigniasize             = 
| insigniacaption          = 
| image                    = 160706-N-FK070-001 Vice Adm. David Johnston (Johnston cropped).jpg
| imagesize                = 
| alt                      = 
| incumbent                = [[David Johnston (admiral)|David Johnston]]
| incumbentsince           = 10 July 2024
| type                     = 
| status                   = 
| department               =
| style                    = [[Admiral (Australia)|Admiral]]<br/>[[General (Australia)|General]]<br/>[[Air Chief Marshal (Australia)|Air Chief Marshal]]
| member_of                = [[Australian Defence Force]]
| reports_to               = [[Minister for Defence (Australia)|Minister for Defence]]
| residence                = 
| seat                     = 
| nominator                = 
| appointer                = 
| appointer_qualified      = 
| termlength               = Four years<ref name=term/>
| termlength_qualified     = 
| constituting_instrument  = 
| precursor                = 
| formation                = 23 March 1958
| first                    = Lieutenant General<br/>[[Henry Wells (general)|Sir Henry Wells]]
| last                     = 
| abolished                = 
| succession               = 
| abbreviation             = CDF
| unofficial_names         = 
| deputy                   = [[Vice Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)|Vice Chief of the Defence Force]]
| salary                   = 
| website                  = {{url|http://www.defence.gov.au/CDF/|Official website}}
}}
The '''Chief of the Defence Force''' ('''CDF''') is the [[Chief of defence|highest-ranking]] and [[Australian Defence Force ranks|most senior]] military officer in the [[Australian Defence Force]] (ADF) and is the principal military advisor to the [[National Security Committee (Australia)|National Security Committee]] and the [[Minister for Defence (Australia)|Minister for Defence]]. The current Chief of the Defence Force is Admiral [[David Johnston (admiral)|David Johnston]], who took office on 10 July 2024.

==Responsibilities==
The CDF commands the ADF under the direction of the Minister for Defence and provides advice on matters that relate to military activity, including military operations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/CDF/Default.asp |title=Chief of the Defence Force – Roles and Responsibilities |publisher=[[Department of Defence (Australia)|Department of Defence]] |access-date=8 January 2016 }}</ref>  In a [[diarchy]], the CDF serves as co-chairman of the [[Defence Committee (Australia)|Defence Committee]], conjointly with the [[Department of Defence (Australia)#Secretary of Defence|Secretary of Defence]], in the command and control of the [[Australian Defence Organisation]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/CDF/Diarchy.asp |title=The Secretary and Chief of the Defence Force – "the Diarchy" |publisher=[[Department of Defence (Australia)|Department of Defence]] |access-date=8 January 2016 }}</ref>

The CDF is the Australian equivalent position of what in [[NATO]] and the [[European Union]] is known as the [[Chief of Defence]], in the United Kingdom is known as the [[Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Defence Staff]], and in the United States is known as the [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]], although with the latter prohibited by law from having operational command authority over the US Armed Forces.<ref name="CJCS">[https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/152-] 10 USC 152. Chairman: appointment; grade and rank</ref>

Constitutionally, the [[Governor-General of Australia]], is the ''[[de jure]]'' Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Defence Force. However, in practice, the [[Government of Australia|Australian Government]] ''[[de facto]]'' exercises [[Executive (government)|executive]] power via the [[Federal Executive Council (Australia)|Federal Executive Council]].<ref name=Handbook>{{cite book|title=Federal Executive Council Handbook|url=http://www.dpmc.gov.au/pmc/publication/federal-executive-council-handbook|work=[[Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia)|Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet]]|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|access-date=7 January 2015|date=September 2009|isbn=978-0-9752387-2-1|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427142015/http://www.dpmc.gov.au/pmc/publication/federal-executive-council-handbook|archive-date=27 April 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The CDF is appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of his/her ministers. The appointment is politically neutral, as are all military positions, and not affected by a change of government.

Since 4 July 2014, the CDF is appointed for a fixed four-year term under the ''Defence Act'' (1903). Prior to this date, the appointment was for three years.<ref name=term>{{cite press release |title=New Australian Defence Force Command Team |url=http://www.pm.gov.au/media/2014-04-04/new-australian-defence-force-command-team |publisher=[[Prime Minister of Australia|Office of the Prime Minister of Australia]] |date=4 April 2014 |access-date=30 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105141458/http://www.pm.gov.au/media/2014-04-04/new-australian-defence-force-command-team |archive-date=5 November 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The position of CDF is notionally rotated between the [[Royal Australian Navy]], the [[Australian Army]] and the [[Royal Australian Air Force]]. However, in practice this has not been the case; of twenty appointees, twelve have been from the Army, six from the Navy and four from the Air Force.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/cdf/past_chiefs.htm |title=Chief of the Defence Force: Previous Chiefs |access-date=29 March 2008 |publisher=Department of Defence |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130082835/http://defence.gov.au/cdf/past_chiefs.htm |archive-date=30 January 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

During peacetime, the Chief of the Defence Force is the only [[4 star rank|four-star officer]] in the ADF ([[Admiral (Australia)|admiral]], [[General (Australia)|general]], or [[Air Chief Marshal (Australia)|air chief marshal]]). The CDF is assisted by the [[Vice Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)|Vice Chief of the Defence Force]] (VCDF) and serves as the Chairman of the '''Chiefs of Service Committee''', composed of the service chiefs: the [[Chief of Navy (Australia)|Chief of Navy]] (CN), [[Chief of Army (Australia)|Chief of Army]] (CA), and [[Chief of Air Force (Australia)|Chief of Air Force]] (CAF), all of whom are [[3 star rank|three-star officers]] ([[Vice admiral (Australia)|vice admiral]], [[Lieutenant general (Australia)|lieutenant general]], and [[Air marshal (Australia)|air marshal]]), as is the VCDF.

==History==
Prior to 1958 there was no CDF or equivalent; a Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) existed but no separate position was established as its senior officer. Instead, the senior service chief served as Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.<ref>Rowell, ''Full Circle'', p. 178</ref> In March 1958, Lieutenant General [[Henry Wells (general)|Sir Henry Wells]] was appointed '''Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee''', a role independent of and notionally senior to the Army, Navy and Air Force chiefs. However, Wells and his successors did not command the Australian armed forces in any legal sense; the chairman had only an advisory role in the running of the separate services. In February 1976, COSC was dissolved and the new position of '''Chief of Defence Force Staff (CDFS)''' was created with command authority over the ADF. In October 1984 the position was renamed Chief of the Defence Force to more clearly reflect the role and its authority.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Horner |first=David |author-link=David Horner |year=2002 |title=The Evolution of Australian Higher Command Arrangements |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/adc/cdclms/Command%20evolution.doc |journal=Command Papers |publisher=Centre for Defence Leadership Studies, [[Australian Defence College]] |location=Canberra |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716203542/http://www.defence.gov.au/adc/Cdclms/Command%20evolution.doc |archive-date=16 July 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Appointments==
The following list chronologically records those who have held the post of Chief of the Defence Force or its preceding positions. The official title of the position at that period of time is listed immediately before the officers who held the role. The honours are as at the completion of the individual's term.
{{Officeholder table start
| showorder               = y
| showimage               = y
| officeholder_title      = Name
| showtermlenght          = y
| showparty               = n
| showdefencebranch       = y
| showref                 = n
}}
|-style="text-align:center;"
|colspan=7|'''Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee'''
{{Officeholder table
| order                   = 1
| image                   = Henry Wells 120535.JPG
| military_rank           = [[Lieutenant general (Australia)|Lieutenant General]]
| officeholder            = [[Henry Wells (general)|Sir Henry Wells]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=75%|sep=,|KBE|CB|DSO}}
| officeholder_sort       = Wells, Henry
| officeholder_note       = 
| born_year               = 1898
| died_year               = 1973
| term_start              = 23 March 1958
| term_end                = 22 March 1959
| timeinoffice            = {{ayd|1958|3|23|1959|3|22}}
| defence_branch          = {{sortname||Army|Australian Army}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order                   = 2
| image                   = Roy Dowling 107003.JPG
| military_rank           = [[Vice admiral (Australia)|Vice Admiral]]
| officeholder            = [[Roy Dowling|Sir Roy Dowling]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=75%|sep=,|KBE|CB|DSO}}
| officeholder_sort       = Dowling, Roy
| officeholder_note       = 
| born_year               = 1901
| died_year               = 1969
| term_start              = 23 March 1959
| term_end                = 27 May 1961
| timeinoffice            = {{ayd|1959|3|23|1961|5|27}}
| defence_branch          = {{sortname||Navy|Royal Australian Navy}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order                   = 3
| image                   = 044726AirChiefMarshalScherger.jpg
| military_rank           = [[Air chief marshal (Australia)|Air Chief Marshal]]
| officeholder            = [[Frederick Scherger|Sir Frederick Scherger]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=75%|sep=,|KBE|CB|DSO|AFC}}
| officeholder_sort       = Scherger, Frederick
| officeholder_note       = 
| born_year               = 1904
| died_year               = 1984
| term_start              = 28 May 1961
| term_end                = 18 May 1966
| timeinoffice            = {{ayd|1961|5|28|1966|5|18}}
| defence_branch          = {{sortname||Air force|Royal Australian Air Force}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order                   = 4
| image                   = 116302WiltonPortrait1945.jpg
| military_rank           = [[General (Australia)|General]]
| officeholder            = [[John Wilton (general)|Sir John Wilton]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=75%|sep=,|KBE|CB|DSO}}
| officeholder_sort       = Wilton, John
| officeholder_note       = 
| born_year               = 1910
| died_year               = 1981
| term_start              = 19 May 1966
| term_end                = 22 November 1970
| timeinoffice            = {{ayd|1966|5|19|1970|11|22}}
| defence_branch          = Army
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order                   = 5
| image                   = Admiral Victor Smith.jpg
| military_rank           = [[Admiral (Australia)|Admiral]]
| officeholder            = [[Victor Smith|Sir Victor Smith]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=75%|sep=,|AC|KBE|CB|DSCuk}}
| officeholder_sort       = Smith, Victor 
| officeholder_note       = 
| born_year               = 1913
| died_year               = 1998
| term_start              = 23 November 1970
| term_end                = 23 November 1975
| timeinoffice            = {{ayd|1970|11|23|1975|11|23}}
| defence_branch          = Navy
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order                   = 6
| image                   = Francis Hassett AWM HOBJ2314.jpg
| military_rank           = General
| officeholder            = [[Frank Hassett]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=75%|sep=,|AC|CB|CBE|DSO|LVO}}
| officeholder_sort       = Hassett, Frank
| officeholder_note       = 
| born_year               = 1918
| died_year               = 2008
| term_start              = 24 November 1975
| term_end                = 8 February 1976
| timeinoffice            = {{ayd|1975|11|24|1976|2|8}}
| defence_branch          = Army
}}
|-style="text-align:center;"
|colspan=7|'''Chief of Defence Force Staff'''
{{Officeholder table
| order                   = 6
| image                   =
| military_rank           = General
| officeholder            = [[Frank Hassett|Sir Frank Hassett]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=75%|sep=,|AC|KBE|CB|DSO|LVO}}
| officeholder_sort       = Hassett, Frank
| officeholder_note       = 
| born_year               = 1918
| died_year               = 2008
| term_start              = 9 February 1976
| term_end                = 20 April 1977
| timeinoffice            = {{ayd|1976|02|9|1977|4|20}}
| defence_branch          = Army
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order                   = 7
| image                   = General Arthur J MacDonald (cropped).jpg
| military_rank           = General
| officeholder            = [[Arthur MacDonald|Sir Arthur MacDonald]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=75%|sep=,|KBE|CB}}
| officeholder_sort       = MacDonald, Arthur
| officeholder_note       = 
| born_year               = 1919
| died_year               = 1995
| term_start              = 21 April 1977
| term_end                = 20 April 1979
| timeinoffice            = {{ayd|1977|4|21|1979|4|20}}
| defence_branch          = Army
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order                   = 8
| image                   = Admiral Anthony Synnot.jpg
| military_rank           = Admiral
| officeholder            = [[Anthony Synnot|Sir Anthony Synnot]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=75%|sep=,|KBE|AO}}
| officeholder_sort       = Synnot, Arthur
| officeholder_note       = 
| born_year               = 1922
| died_year               = 2001
| term_start              = 21 April 1979
| term_end                = 20 April 1982
| timeinoffice            = {{ayd|1979|4|21|1982|4|20}}
| defence_branch          = Navy
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order                   = 9
| image                   = P02032.002NevMcNamara.jpg
| military_rank           = Air Chief Marshal
| officeholder            = [[Neville McNamara|Sir Neville McNamara]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=75%|sep=,|KBE|AO|AFC|AE}}
| officeholder_sort       = McNamara, Neville
| officeholder_note       = 
| born_year               = 1923
| died_year               = 2014
| term_start              = 21 April 1982
| term_end                = 12 April 1984
| timeinoffice            = {{ayd|1982|4|21|1984|4|12}}
| defence_branch          = Air force
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order                   = 10
| image                   = Sir Phillip Bennett preparing to lay wreath, May 7, 1992.JPEG
| military_rank           = General
| officeholder            = [[Phillip Bennett|Sir Phillip Bennett]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=75%|sep=,|AC|KBE|DSO}}
| officeholder_sort       = Bennett, Phillip
| officeholder_note       = 
| born_year               = 1928
| died_year               =2023 
| term_start              = 13 April 1984
| term_end                = 25 October 1984
| timeinoffice            = {{ayd|1984|4|13|1984|10|25}}
| defence_branch          = Army
}}
|-style="text-align:center;"
|colspan=7|'''Chief of the Defence Force'''
{{Officeholder table
| order                   = 10
| image                   =
| military_rank           = General
| officeholder            = [[Phillip Bennett|Sir Phillip Bennett]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=75%|sep=,|AC|KBE|DSO}}
| officeholder_sort       = Bennett, Phillip
| officeholder_note       = 
| born_year               = 1928
| died_year               =2023 
| term_start              = 26 October 1984
| term_end                = 12 April 1987
| timeinoffice            = {{ayd|1984|10|26|1987|4|12}}
| defence_branch          = Army
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order                   = 11
| image                   =
| military_rank           = General
| officeholder            = [[Peter Gration]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=75%|sep=,|AC|OBE}}
| officeholder_sort       = Gration, Peter
| officeholder_note       = 
| born_year               = 1932
| died_year               = 
| term_start              = 13 April 1987
| term_end                = 16 April 1993
| timeinoffice            = {{ayd|1987|4|13|1993|4|16}}
| defence_branch          = Army
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order                   = 12
| image                   = Alan Beaumont.jpg
| military_rank           = Admiral
| officeholder            = [[Alan Beaumont]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=75%|sep=,|AC}}
| officeholder_sort       = Beaumont, Alan
| officeholder_note       = 
| born_year               = 1934
| died_year               = 2004
| term_start              = 17 April 1993
| term_end                = 6 July 1995
| timeinoffice            = {{ayd|1993|4|17|1995|7|6}}
| defence_branch          = Navy
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order                   = 13
| image                   = General John Baker.jpg
| military_rank           = General
| officeholder            = [[John Baker (general)|John Baker]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=75%|sep=,|AC|DSM}}
| officeholder_sort       = Baker, John
| officeholder_note       = 
| born_year               = 1936
| died_year               = 2007
| term_start              = 7 July 1995
| term_end                = 3 July 1998
| timeinoffice            = {{ayd|1995|7|7|1998|7|3}}
| defence_branch          = Army
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order                   = 14
| image                   = Chris Barrie (7006248205) (cropped).jpg
| military_rank           = Admiral
| officeholder            = [[Chris Barrie (admiral)|Chris Barrie]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=75%|sep=,|AC}}
| officeholder_sort       = Barrie, Chris
| officeholder_note       = 
| born_year               = 1945
| died_year               = 
| term_start              = 4 July 1998
| term_end                = 3 July 2002
| timeinoffice            = {{ayd|1998|7|4|2002|7|3}}
| defence_branch          = Navy
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order                   = 15
| image                   = Peter Cosgrove 2017 (1) crop.jpg
| military_rank           = General
| officeholder            = [[Peter Cosgrove]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=75%|sep=,|AC|MC}}
| officeholder_sort       = Cosgrove, Peter
| officeholder_note       = 
| born_year               = 1947
| died_year               = 
| term_start              = 4 July 2002
| term_end                = 3 July 2005
| timeinoffice            = {{ayd|2002|7|4|2005|7|3}}
| defence_branch          = Army
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order                   = 16
| image                   = Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston.jpg
| military_rank           = Air Chief Marshal
| officeholder            = [[Angus Houston]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=75%|sep=,|AC|AFC}}
| officeholder_sort       = Houston, Angus
| officeholder_note       = 
| born_year               = 1947
| died_year               = 
| term_start              = 4 July 2005
| term_end                = 3 July 2011
| timeinoffice            = {{ayd|2005|7|4|2011|7|3}}
| defence_branch          = Air force
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order                   = 17
| image                   = David Hurley (cropped).jpg
| military_rank           = General
| officeholder            = [[David Hurley]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=75%|sep=,|AC|DSC}}
| officeholder_sort       = Hurley, David
| officeholder_note       = 
| born_year               = 1953
| died_year               = 
| term_start              = 4 July 2011
| term_end                = 30 June 2014
| timeinoffice            = {{ayd|2011|7|4|2014|6|30}}
| defence_branch          = Army
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order                   = 18
| image                   = 1Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin 180420-D-PB383-002 (cropped).jpg
| military_rank           = Air Chief Marshal
| officeholder            = [[Mark Binskin]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=75%|AC}}
| officeholder_sort       = Binskin, Mark
| officeholder_note       = 
| born_year               = 1960
| died_year               = 
| term_start              = 30 June 2014
| term_end                = 6 July 2018
| timeinoffice            = {{ayd|2014|6|30|2018|7|6}}
| defence_branch          = Air force
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order                   = 19
| image                   = Angus Campbell.jpg
| military_rank           = General
| officeholder            = [[Angus Campbell (general)|Angus Campbell]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=75%|sep=,|AO|DSC}}
| officeholder_sort       = Campbell, Angus
| officeholder_note       = 
| born_year               = 1963
| died_year               = 
| term_start              = 6 July 2018
| term_end                = 10 July 2024
| timeinoffice            = {{ayd|2018|7|6|2024|7|10}}
| defence_branch          = Army
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order                   = 20
| image                   = 160706-N-FK070-001 Vice Adm. David Johnston (Johnston cropped).jpg
| military_rank           = Admiral
| officeholder            = [[David Johnston (admiral)|David Johnston]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=75%|sep=,|AC}}
| officeholder_sort       = Johnston, David
| officeholder_note       = 
| born_year               = 1962
| died_year               = 
| term_start              = 10 July 2024
| timeinoffice            = {{ayd|2024|7|10}}
| defence_branch          = Navy
}}
{{Officeholder table end}}

===Timeline===
<timeline>
ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:10
PlotArea  = top:10 bottom:50 right:130 left:20
AlignBars = late

DateFormat = yyyy
Period     = from:1955 till:2030
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:5 start:1955

Define $now	= 2025

Colors     =
  id:ccsc	value:rgb(1,0,0)	legend: CCSC
  id:cdfs	value:rgb(0,1,0)        legend: CDFS
  id:cdf	value:rgb(0,0,1)	legend: CDF
  id:time	value:rgb(0.9,0.9,0.9)

Legend     = orientation:vertical position:right

LineData = 
  layer:back
  width:0.2
  color:time
  at:1955
  at:1960
  at:1965
  at:1970
  at:1975
  at:1980
  at:1985
  at:1990
  at:1995
  at:2000
  at:2005
  at:2010
  at:2015
  at:2020
  at:2025
  at:2030

BarData =
 barset:PM
 bar:Wells
 bar:Dowling
 bar:Scherger
 bar:Wilton
 bar:Smith
 bar:Hassett
 bar:Hassett2
 bar:MacDonald
 bar:Synnot
 bar:McNamara
 bar:Bennett
 bar:Bennett2
 bar:Gration
 bar:Beaumont
 bar:Baker
 bar:Barrie
 bar:Cosgrove
 bar:Houston
 bar:Hurley
 bar:Binskin
 bar:Campbell
 bar:Johnston

PlotData=
  width:6 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till
  barset:PM

 bar:Wells	from: 1958 till: 1959	color:ccsc	text:[[Henry Wells (general)|Sir Henry Wells]]
 bar:Dowling	from: 1959 till: 1961	color:ccsc	text:[[Roy Dowling|Sir Roy Dowling]]
 bar:Scherger	from: 1961 till: 1966	color:ccsc	text:[[Frederick Scherger|Sir Frederick Scherger]]
 bar:Wilton	from: 1966 till: 1970	color:ccsc	text:[[John Wilton (general)|Sir John Wilton]]
 bar:Smith	from: 1970 till: 1975	color:ccsc	text:[[Victor Smith|Sir Victor Smith]]
 bar:Hassett	from: 1975 till: 1976	color:ccsc	text:[[Frank Hassett]]
 bar:Hassett2	from: 1976 till: 1977	color:cdfs	text:[[Frank Hassett|Sir Frank Hassett]]
 bar:MacDonald	from: 1977 till: 1979	color:cdfs	text:[[Arthur MacDonald|Sir Arthur MacDonald]]
 bar:Synnot	from: 1979 till: 1982	color:cdfs	text:[[Anthony Synnot|Sir Anthony Synnot]]
 bar:McNamara	from: 1982 till: 1984	color:cdfs	text:[[Neville McNamara|Sir Neville McNamara]]
 bar:Bennett	from: 1984 till: 1984	color:cdfs	text:[[Phillip Bennett|Sir Phillip Bennett]]
 bar:Bennett2	from: 1984 till: 1987	color:cdf	text:[[Phillip Bennett|Sir Phillip Bennett]]
 bar:Gration	from: 1987 till: 1993	color:cdf	text:[[Peter Gration]]
 bar:Beaumont	from: 1993 till: 1995	color:cdf	text:[[Alan Beaumont]]
 bar:Baker	from: 1995 till: 1998	color:cdf	text:[[John Baker (general)|John Baker]]
 bar:Barrie	from: 1998 till: 2002	color:cdf	text:[[Chris Barrie (admiral)|Chris Barrie]]
 bar:Cosgrove	from: 2002 till: 2005	color:cdf	text:[[Peter Cosgrove]]
 bar:Houston	from: 2005 till: 2011	color:cdf	text:[[Angus Houston]]
 bar:Hurley	from: 2011 till: 2014	color:cdf	text:[[David Hurley]]
 bar:Binskin	from: 2014 till: 2018	color:cdf	text:[[Mark Binskin]]
 bar:Campbell	from: 2018 till: 2024 color:cdf	text:[[Angus Campbell (general)|Angus Campbell]]
 bar:Johnston	from: 2024 till: $now	color:cdf	text:[[David Johnston (admiral)|David Johnston]]

</timeline>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Cite web |last=Australian Government |title=Department of Defence |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/index.htm |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/Publications/docs/DefenceOrgChart.pdf |title=Defence Organisational Structure Chart |work=Department of Defence |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |date=21 September 2015}}

{{ADF Leadership}}
{{Chief of military by country}}

[[Category:Leadership of the Australian Defence Force]]
[[Category:Military appointments of Australia]]
[[Category:Australian generals| ]]
[[Category:Royal Australian Navy admirals| ]]
[[Category:Royal Australian Air Force air marshals| ]]
[[Category:Chiefs of the Defence Force (Australia)| ]]
[[Category:Chiefs of defence|Australia]]