The following is a list of Australians who have attained air marshal rank within the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF); that is, service personnel who have held the rank of air chief marshal (four-star rank), air marshal (three-star rank) or air vice-marshal (two-star rank). The Royal Australian Air Force was established in 1921 as a separate branch of the Australian military forces. The service was modelled after the Royal Air Force—formed three years earlier—and adopted the same ranking system. Richard Williams, regarded as the "father" of the Royal Australian Air Force, was the service's first member to obtain air-officer rank on being promoted to air commodore (one-star rank) in 1927; he went on to become the first air vice-marshal (1935) and air marshal (1940). In 1965, Sir Frederick Scherger became the first officer to be advanced to air chief marshal, one of only four members of the Royal Australian Air Force to obtain this rank as of February 2024. A further twenty-five individuals have reached air marshal in the RAAF and 143 air vice-marshal; seven officers have retired with the honorary rank of air vice-marshal.[1] [2]
The rank of air chief marshal is the most senior rank within the Royal Australian Air Force to which, excluding ceremonial appointments, any officer has ever been promoted. Only the five-star rank of Marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force is higher, but it has been held in only a ceremonial capacity. As there are currently no appointments in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) at the five-star level, there is no prospect of a RAAF officer achieving the rank in a professional (i.e. non-ceremonial) capacity. Additionally, Marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force is generally considered to be a marshal rank as opposed to an air marshal rank and so the only two individuals ever to hold the rank, King George VI and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, are not listed in a separate section. With the current structure of the ADF, the rank of air chief marshal is held only when an officer of the RAAF is appointed as Chief of the Defence Force. As of June 2018, only four officers have obtained the rank of air chief marshal in the RAAF, the first being Sir Frederick Scherger in 1965 who was also the first non-Army officer in the Australian military to reach four-star rank. Mark Binskin is the most-recently promoted of the four, having been advanced to air chief marshal in June 2014.[3]
Air chief marshals of the Royal Australian Air Force are as follows:[4]
| Name | Born | Died | Senior command(s) and notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Chief of the Defence Force (2014–18), Vice Chief of the Defence Force (2011–14), Chief of Air Force (2008–11), Air Commander Australia (2007–08) | |||
| 1947 | Chief of the Defence Force (2005–11), Chief of Air Force (2001–05) | |||
| 1923 | 2014 | Chief of the Defence Force Staff (1982–84), Chief of the Air Staff (1979–82), Commander, RAAF Forces Vietnam (1971–72) | ||
| 1904 | 1984 | Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (1961–66), Chief of the Air Staff (1957–61) |
Air marshal is the highest permanent rank in the Royal Australian Air Force. The rank of air marshal is always held by the Chief of Air Force, though is also held when a RAAF officer is appointed as Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Chief of Joint Operations, Chief of Joint Capabilities or equivalent positions. Richard Williams was the first officer to attain the rank of air marshal in the RAAF on promotion in 1940. Regarded as the 'father' of the Royal Australian Air Force, Williams was its first and longest serving chief, being appointed to the post during three different periods and serving for a total of thirteen years.[5] [6] Stephen Chappell is the most recent officer to obtain the rank of air marshal, having been promoted to the rank in July 2024.[7]
Air marshals of the Royal Australian Air Force are as follows:[8]
| Name | Born | Died | Senior command(s) and notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Chief of Air Force (2011–15), Deputy Chief of Air Force (2008–11) | |||
| 1975 | Chief of Air Force (2024–), Head Military Strategic Commitments (2022–24) | |||
| 1971 | Chief of Air Force (2022–24), Head Military Strategic Commitments (2021–22), Australian Military Representative to NATO and the European Union (2019–21) | |||
| 1960 | Chief of Air Force (2015–19), Deputy Chief of Air Force (2012–15) | |||
| 1925 | 2020 | Chief of the Air Staff (1982–85) | ||
| 1941 | Chief of Air Force (1997–98), Chief of the Air Staff (1994–97) | |||
| 1935 | Chief of the Air Staff (1987–92), Vice Chief of the Defence Force (1986–87) | |||
| 1975 | National Cyber Security Coordinator (2023), Air Commander Australia (2022–23) | |||
| 1936 | Chief of Air Force (1992–94), Air Commander Australia (1990–92). Brother of General Peter Gration | |||
| 1907 | 1998 | Chief of the Air Staff (1961–65), Air Officer Commanding Operational Command (1959–61) | ||
| 1914 | 1978 | Governor of Queensland (1972–77), Chief of the Air Staff (1970–72), Air Officer Commanding Operational Command (1965–67) | ||
| 1954 | Chief of Capability Development Group (2010–12), Program Manager, New Air Combat Capability (2006–10) | |||
| 1962 | Chief of Air Force (2019–22), Chief of Joint Operations (2018–19), Head Force Design (2016–18), Head Capability Systems (2014–15), Air Commander Australia (2012–14), Commander Air Combat Group (2008–11) | |||
| 1896 | 1992 | Director of Coordination, Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (1952–57), Chief of the Air Staff (1942–52) | ||
| 1899 | 1989 | Chief of the Air Staff (1954–57), Air Officer Commanding Home Command (1949–54) | ||
| 1963 | Chief of Joint Capabilities (2017–20), Deputy Chief of Air Force (2015–17) | |||
| 1941 | 2024 | Chief of Air Force (1998–01) | ||
| 1912 | 1984 | Chief of the Air Staff (1965–69), Air Officer Commanding Operational Command (1962–65) | ||
| 1930 | 2022 | Chief of the Air Staff (1985–87) | ||
| 1969 | Chief of Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (2023–), Head Aerospace Systems Division (2022–23) | |||
| 1918 | 2014 | Chief of the Air Staff (1972–75) | ||
| 1943 | Vice Chief of the Defence Force (1998–00) | |||
| 1922 | 1999 | Governor of New South Wales (1981–89), Chief of the Air Staff (1975–79) | ||
| 1952 | Chief of Air Force (2005–08), Air Commander Australia (2003–05) | |||
| 1890 | 1980 | Director-General of Civil Aviation (1946–55), Air Officer Commanding Overseas Headquarters (1941–42), Chief of the Air Staff (1922; 1925–32; 1934–39) |
The first Royal Australian Air Force air vice-marshal was Richard Williams in 1935;[5] he was followed by Stanley Goble—Williams' successor all three times he held the position of Chief of the Air Staff—two years later. The list of RAAF air vice-marshals includes Frank McNamara, the first Australian aviator to be decorated with the Victoria Cross (VC). McNamara was awarded the VC in 1917 while serving with the Australian Flying Corps, the Australian Army's air branch and predecessor of the RAAF, in the First World War; he was promoted air vice-marshal in 1942. As of January 2023, six women have reached air vice-marshal rank. On promotion to air vice-marshal in 2003, Julie Hammer became the first woman to achieve two-star rank in the ADF.[9] [10] Hammer has since been joined by Margaret Staib (2010),[11] Tracy Smart (2015), Cath Roberts (2016), Barbara Courtney (2021), Wendy Blyth (2022), and Dianne Turton (2024).
Air vice-marshals of the Royal Australian Air Force are as follows:[12] [13]
| Name | Born | Died | Senior command(s) and notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1902 | 1971 | Air Member for Supply and Equipment (1956–60) | ||
| 1922 | 1990 | Air Officer Commanding Operational Command (1978–80) | ||
| + | 1891 | 1975 | Air Officer Commanding Eastern Area (1942–43), Air Officer Commanding Central Area (1940–41), Chief of the Air Staff (1940) | |
| 1953 | Head Defence Health Services (2005–08), Director-General Defence Health Services (2002–05) | |||
| 1924 | 2018 | Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1979–81) | ||
| 1953 | Surgeon General Australian Defence Force Reserves (2011–19) | |||
| 1942 | Commandant, Australian Defence Force Academy (1996–97), Air Commander Australia (1992–96) | |||
| 1956 | Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (2005–08) | |||
| 1898 | 1978 | Air Officer Commanding Eastern Area (1947–48), Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1944–46), Air Officer Commanding North-Western Area (1942–43) | ||
| 1974 | Head of Air Force Capability (2023–) | |||
| 1937 | Commandant, Australian Defence Force Academy (1990–93) | |||
| 1892 | 1968 | Federal Member for Indi (1949–58), Air Officer Commanding RAAF Command (1942–45), Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1939–42) | ||
| 1936 | 2001 | Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1987–90) | ||
| 1969 | Air Commander Australia (2023–), Deputy Chief of Air Force (2023), First Assistant Director-General Expeditionary and Transnational Intelligence Division (2020–22) | |||
| 1930 | Director-General Policy and Plans (1981–84) | |||
| 1912 | 1985 | Air Officer Commanding Home Command (1958–59), Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1956–58) | ||
| 1925 | 2010 | Chief of Supply (1980–82) | ||
| + | 1903 | 1978 | Air Officer Commanding Overseas Headquarters (1954–55), Air Officer Commanding North-Western Area (1944–46), Air Officer Commanding Eastern Area (1943–44) | |
| 1972 | Commander Integrated Area Defence System, Malaysia (2024–) | |||
| 1948 | Head Capability Systems (2002–05), Commander Five Power Defence Arrangements (2000–02) | |||
| 1913 | 1995 | Air Member for Supply and Equipment (1968–73) | ||
| 1963 | Head of Australian Defence Staff, Washington, D.C. (2017–20) | |||
| + | 1895 | 1966 | Air Member for Personnel (1944–45), Air Officer Commanding North-Western Area (1943–44), Air Officer Commanding Southern Area (1940–41) | |
| 1932 | Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1985–87) | |||
| 1939 | Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command (1990–93) | |||
| 1922 | 2004 | Chief of Air Force Technical Services (1975–1979) | ||
| 1947 | Head Aerospace Systems Division (1990–91) | |||
| 1922 | 2018 | Chief of Air Force Materiel (1975–79) | ||
| 1963 | Head Royal Commission Defence and Veteran Suicide Taskforce (2021–) | |||
| 1941 | Assistant Chief of the Defence Force (Personnel) (1994–97) | |||
| 1903 | 1993 | Air Member for Supply and Equipment (1960–64) | ||
| 1949 | Air Commander Australia (1999–00) | |||
| 1901 | 1985 | Director-General RAAF Medical Services (1945–61), Director Medical Services (1943–45) | ||
| 1957 | Program Manager for the Joint Strike Fighter Division (2014–16), Program Manager, Airborne Early Warning and Control (2006–14) | |||
| 1972 | Head Force Integration (2023–), Head of Air Force Capability (2021–23) | |||
| 1929 | 1985 | Chief of Air Force Technical Services (1981–85) | ||
| 1917 | 1980 | Australian Defence Representative in Washington D.C. (1970–74) | ||
| 1963 | Head of ICT Operations and Strategic J6 (2014–17) | |||
| 1949 | Director-General Defence Force Cadets (2003–05), Director-General Reserves (2002–03) | |||
| 1916 | 1982 | Air Officer Commanding Operational Command (1973), Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1966–67) | ||
| 1970 | Assistant to the Chief of the Defence Force (2023–), Commander Australian Defence College (2022-23) | |||
| 1965 | Head Aerospace Systems Division (2023–) | |||
| 1948 | 2017 | Advisor to Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics Coordination Task Force (1999–01), Deputy Chief of Air Force (1998–99), Air Officer Commanding Training Command (1995–98) | ||
| 1957 | Deputy Chief of Joint Operations (2008–09), Commander Joint Task Force 633 (2004–05) | |||
| 1926 | 2015 | Director, Australian War Memorial (1982–87) | ||
| 1930 | 2001 | Chief of Air Force Materiel (1982–83) | ||
| + | 1915 | 1982 | Senior Air Staff Officer Operational Command (1963–64, 1966–67), Senior Air Staff Officer Far East Air Force (1964–66) | |
| 1891 | 1948 | Chief of the Air Staff (1922–25; 1932–34; 1939–40) | ||
| 1961 | Head Joint Strike Fighter Division (2016–20), Head Aerospace Systems Division (2013–16) | |||
| 1937 | Director-General Technical Plans (1987–88) | |||
| 1952 | Chief Executive Officer, Defence Materiel Organisation (2004–05) | |||
| 1955 | National President, Engineers Australia (2007–08), Commandant, Australian Defence Force Academy (2001–03). First female to be promoted air commodore and air vice-marshal in RAAF; first female promoted to two-star rank in ADF. | |||
| 1963 | Head One Defence Implementation (2015–17), Head Force Structure Review (2014–16), Head Joint Capability Coordination (2012–13), Deputy Chief of Air Force (2011) | |||
| 1966 | Commander Integrated Area Defence System, Malaysia (2020–24) | |||
| 1916 | 1981 | Director Joint Service Plans (1966–68) | ||
| 1914 | 1976 | Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1965–66) | ||
| 1932 | Chief of Logistics Development (1988–89) | |||
| 1921 | 2002 | Judge Advocate-General RAAF (1969–84) | ||
| 1909 | 1970 | Air Officer Commanding Training Command (1956–57), Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1953–55), Air Officer Commanding Western Area (1951–53) | ||
| 1959 | Commander Integrated Area Defence System, Malaysia (2014–17) | |||
| 1918 | 1999 | Air Officer Commanding Operational Command (1967–69) | ||
| 1901 | 1985 | No. 9 Operational Group RAAF (1943) | ||
| 1912 | 2006 | Air Member for Technical Services (1960–72) | ||
| 1949 | Head Business Information Systems (2000–02) | |||
| 1967 | Head Aerospace Systems Division and Head Air Domain (2019–22) | |||
| 1916 | 2006 | Air Member for Supply and Equipment (1973–75) | ||
| 1928 | 2005 | Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1981–83) | ||
| 1921 | 2018 | Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1974–75) | ||
| 1888 | 1958 | Director-General Medical Services RAAF (1942–45) | ||
| 1960 | Commander Integrated Area Defence System (2017–20), Commander Joint Task Force 633 (2016–17) | |||
| 1967 | Air Commander Australia (2019–22), Commander Joint Task Force 633 (2019) | |||
| 1923 | 2018 | Air Member for Personnel (1975–76) | ||
| 1946 | Air Commander Australia (2000–03) | |||
| 1965 | Deputy Chief of Joint Operations (2021–24) | |||
| 1928 | 2021 | Air Officer Commanding Operational Command (1981–84) | ||
| 1970 | Head Guided Weapons & Explosive Ordnance (2022–) | |||
| 1930 | 1999 | Director-General Natural Disasters Organisation (1984–87) | ||
| 1960 | Commander Integrated Area Defence System, Malaysia (2010–14) | |||
| + | 1915 | 1977 | Air Officer Commanding Support Command (1969–70), Commander, RAAF Forces Vietnam (1967–68) | |
| 1895 | 1951 | Air Member for Supply and Equipment (1942–51) | ||
| 1911 | 1991 | Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1959–61), Air Officer Commanding Training Command (1957–59) | ||
| 1950 | Deputy Chief of Air Force (2004–05), Commander Integrated Area Defence System, Malaysia (2002–04), Commander Air Lift Group (1998–00) | |||
| + | 1894 | 1961 | Air Officer Commanding British Forces Aden (1942–45), Air Officer Commanding Overseas Headquarters (1942). First Australian aviator to receive the Victoria Cross. | |
| 1915 | 1994 | Director-General Medical Services RAAF (1967–71) | ||
| 1967 | Deputy Chief of Air Force (2019–23), Head Force Integration (2017–19), Commander Air Warfare Centre (2016–17) | |||
| 1935 | 2016 | Surgeon-General Australian Defence Force (1990–92), Director General Air Force Health Services (1987–90) | ||
| 1943 | Surgeon-General Australian Defence Force (1996–98), Director General Air Force Health Services (1990–93) | |||
| 1954 | Head Aerospace Systems Division (2002–04) | |||
| 1920 | 1995 | Director-General RAAF Medical Services (1971–80) | ||
| 1937 | Assistant Chief of the Defence Force (Personnel) (1990–92), Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Personnel) (1989–90) | |||
| 1971 | Deputy Commander, United States Pacific Air Forces (2023–) | |||
| 1920 | 2004 | Air Officer Commanding Support Command (1973–77), Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1972–73), Commander, RAAF Forces Vietnam (1968–69) | ||
| 1938 | Judge Advocate-General Australian Defence Force (1987–92), Judge Advocate General RAAF (1983–85) | |||
| 1946 | Air Commander Australia (1996–98) | |||
| 1921 | 1995 | Chief of Air Force Technical Services (1979–81) | ||
| 1939 | Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1990–93) | |||
| 1944 | Air Officer Commanding Training Command (1994–95) | |||
| 1963 | Commander Operation Sovereign Borders (2017–18) | |||
| 1959 | Program Manager, New Air Combat Capability (2011–14), Head of Australian Defence Staff, Washington D.C. (2008–11), Commander Air Combat Group (2007–08) | |||
| 1924 | 2006 | Director-General Air Force Operations and PLans (1976–77) | ||
| 1923 | 1985 | Chief of Air Force Personnel (1976–79) | ||
| 1932 | Director-General Air Force Manpower (1985–87) | |||
| 1959 | Head of Military Strategic Commitments (2010–13), Commander Air Force Training Group (2006–07) | |||
| 1956 | Head Capability Systems (2008–12), Commander Air Lift Group (2007–08) | |||
| 1955 | Head Capability Systems (2007–08), Air Commander Australia (2005–07), Commander Air Combat Group (2002–04) | |||
| 1935 | Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1990), Air Commander Australia (1985–1990) | |||
| 1933 | 2021 | Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command (1987–90) | ||
| 1937 | 2016 | Director-General Air Force Health Services (1984–87) | ||
| 1931 | 1986 | Air Officer Commanding Operational Command (1984–85) | ||
| Deputy Chief of Air Force (2023–) | ||||
| 1941 | Deputy Chief of Air Force (1997), Air Officer Commanding Training Command (1992–93) | |||
| 1938 | Commander Tactical Fighter Group (1988–90) | |||
| 1928 | 2011 | Air Officer Commanding Operational Command (1980–81) | ||
| 1968 | Head Force Design (2019–22), Air Commander Australia (2017–19) | |||
| 1965 | Head of Space Division (2022–), Head of Air Force Capability (2019–21), Head Aerospace Systems Division (2016–19) | |||
| 1921 | 1995 | Air Officer Commanding Operational Command (1974–78), Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1973–74), Commander, RAAF Forces Vietnam (1969–70) | ||
| 1943 | Head of Capability Development (1997–98), Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1994–97) | |||
| 1937 | Director-General RAAF Tactical Fighter Project (1992–96) | |||
| 1955 | Head Aerospace Systems Division (2005–08) | |||
| 1969 | Head Air Defence and Space Systems (2022–) | |||
| 1934 | Air Officer Commanding Support Command (1983–86) | |||
| 1942 | Surgeon-General Australian Defence Force (2001–05) | |||
| 1930 | 2023 | Chief of Air Force Operations and Plans (1985–87) | ||
| 1959 | Air Commander Australia (2008–12) | |||
| 1963 | Commander Joint Health (2015–19) | |||
| 1945 | Air Officer Commanding Support Command (1997–00) | |||
| 1953 | Deputy Head Strategic Reform and Governance (2010–13) | |||
| 1951 | Commander Joint Logistics (2004–06), Deputy Chief of Air Force (2001–04) | |||
| 1962 | CEO of Airservices Australia (2012–2015), Commander Joint Logistics (2010–12), Commandant, Australian Defence Force Academy (2009) | |||
| 1922 | 2017 | Director-General Air Force Health Services (1980–84) | ||
| 1917 | 1992 | Director-General Operational Requirements (1966–69) | ||
| 1931 | Chief of Air Force Technical Services (1985–89) | |||
| 1968 | Head Virginia Acquisition and Commercial Division, Australian Submarine Agency (2023–) | |||
| 1963 | Head Aerospace Systems Division (2008–13) | |||
| 1939 | Assistant Chief of the Defence Force (Logistics) (1993–95) | |||
| 1946 | Deputy Chief of Air Force (1999–01), Air Commander Australia (1998–99) | |||
| 1916 | 1987 | Air Officer Commanding Operational Command (1969–73), Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1967–69) | ||
| 1926 | 1998 | Air Officer Commanding Support Command (1979–80) | ||
| 1946 | Commander Australian Theatre (1999–01) | |||
| 1915 | 1985 | Director-General Medical Services RAAF (1963–67) | ||
| 1935 | Director-General Air Force Operations (1981–82; 1987–88) | |||
| 1964 | Deputy Chief of Air Force (2017–19), Air Commander Australia (2014–17) | |||
| Australian Military Representative to NATO and the European Union (2024–) | ||||
| 1901 | 1984 | Air Member for Technical Services (1942–59) | ||
| 1905 | 1968 | Air Officer Commanding Support Command (1959–62), Air Officer Commanding Home Command (1954–57) | ||
| 1960 | Commander Northern Command (2011–13) | |||
| 1941 | Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command (1995–97) | |||
| 1945 | Assistant Chief of the Defence Force (Operations) (1995–97) | |||
| 1926 | 1998 | Chief of Supply (1975–80) | ||
| + | 1892 | 1987 | Air Officer Commanding Overseas Headquarters (1942–46) | |
| 1964 | Program Manager Enterprise Resource and Planning Project (2016–18) |