Geoff Shepherd
Encyclopedia
Air Marshal
Geoffrey David Shepherd AO
(born 24 January 1952) is a retired senior officer in the Royal Australian Air Force
, serving as its Chief from 2005 until 2008.
(Physics) degree from Melbourne University followed by a
Post-Graduate Diploma in Military Aviation.
He had operational flying tours on Mirage III fighter aircraft
at RAAF Base Butterworth
(Malaysia), the F-111 strike bomber at RAAF Base Amberley
, both as a line pilot and as the Training Flight Commander and as a flying instructor at No 1 Flying Training School RAAF Base Point Cook. He has approximately 4500 flying hours, including 2500 hours in the F-111.
He has held staff appointments at 82 Wing (F-111) HQ, as the Assistant Defence Adviser at the Australian High Commission in Singapore
, and in Force Development in the field of capability analysis. He also undertook staff training at the Joint Services Staff College
.
His command appointments were Commanding Officer of 6 SQN (F-111), in the rank of Wing Commander
, and Officer Commanding 82 Wing (F-111), as a Group Captain
.
He was promoted to Air Commodore
on 1 December 1998 and served two years as the Chief of Staff at HQ Air Command. He was the Director General Operations at the Defence Signals Directorate
from January 2001 until October 2002, when he moved on to become Director-General Joint Operations and Plans in Strategic Operations Division.
Air Commodore Shepherd was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia
(AM) in the Australia Day
2000 Honours List.Citation: For exceptional service to the Royal Australian Air Force in the field of Operations, particularly as the Officer Commanding of Number 82 Wing.
He was promoted to Air Vice Marshal on 2 December 2003 and appointed Air Commander Australia
(ACAUST) taking effect 15 December 2003.
On 23 May 2005, the Minister for Defence
announced that, upon promotion to Air Marshal (as of 4 July 2005), Shepherd would succeed Angus Houston
as the Chief of Air Force (CAF). In June 2006 he was elevated to Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).Citation: For distinguished service to the Australian Defence Force in senior command and staff appointments.
On 4 July 2008 his 37 year career in the RAAF came to an end with his retirement. His last official function was to be the Reviewing Officer of the Officer Training School Graduation Parade, held at RAAF Base East Sale, however due to unwanted weather conditions the Parade was cancelled. He was given one final stairway guard by the young men and women of the Australian Air Force Cadets, who were on a camp at RAAF Base East Sale at the time.
He was succeeded as CAF by Air Marshal Mark Binskin
.
", a distinctive Australian vocalisation used mainly in the outback
, with which he ended his first address as Chief of Air Force.
He attended Brisbane State High School
.
He is married to Anne, with whom he has two sons. His interests include gardening, rugby league
football, travelling and understanding other cultures.
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Air Marshal (Australia)
Air marshal is the second highest active rank of the Royal Australian Air Force and was created as a direct equivalent of the British Royal Air Force rank of air marshal, it is also considered a three-star rank...
Geoffrey David Shepherd AO
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 24 January 1952) is a retired senior officer in the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
, serving as its Chief from 2005 until 2008.
Service history
Shepherd commenced his RAAF service with the 1971 RAAF Academy intake, graduating in December 1974 with a Bachelor of ScienceBachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
(Physics) degree from Melbourne University followed by a
Post-Graduate Diploma in Military Aviation.
He had operational flying tours on Mirage III fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
at RAAF Base Butterworth
RAAF Base Butterworth
RMAF Butterworth is an Air Force Station of the Royal Malaysian Air Force situated near the town of Butterworth in the state of Penang, directly opposite the island itself.-RAF Butterworth:...
(Malaysia), the F-111 strike bomber at RAAF Base Amberley
RAAF Base Amberley
RAAF Base Amberley is a Royal Australian Air Force base located southwest of Ipswich, Queensland and southwest of Brisbane. It is currently home to No. 1 Squadron and No. 6 Squadron , No. 33 Squadron and No. 36 Squadron...
, both as a line pilot and as the Training Flight Commander and as a flying instructor at No 1 Flying Training School RAAF Base Point Cook. He has approximately 4500 flying hours, including 2500 hours in the F-111.
He has held staff appointments at 82 Wing (F-111) HQ, as the Assistant Defence Adviser at the Australian High Commission in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, and in Force Development in the field of capability analysis. He also undertook staff training at the Joint Services Staff College
Joint Services Staff College
Joint Services Staff College may refer to:* Joint Services Staff College , the former name of the "Joint Service Defence College"* Joint Services Staff College , the former name of the "Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies"...
.
His command appointments were Commanding Officer of 6 SQN (F-111), in the rank of Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
, and Officer Commanding 82 Wing (F-111), as a Group Captain
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
.
He was promoted to Air Commodore
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
on 1 December 1998 and served two years as the Chief of Staff at HQ Air Command. He was the Director General Operations at the Defence Signals Directorate
Defence Signals Directorate
Defence Signals Directorate is an Australian government intelligence agency responsible for signals intelligence and information security .-Overview:According to its website, DSD has two principal functions:...
from January 2001 until October 2002, when he moved on to become Director-General Joint Operations and Plans in Strategic Operations Division.
Air Commodore Shepherd was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(AM) in the Australia Day
Australia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia...
2000 Honours List.Citation: For exceptional service to the Royal Australian Air Force in the field of Operations, particularly as the Officer Commanding of Number 82 Wing.
He was promoted to Air Vice Marshal on 2 December 2003 and appointed Air Commander Australia
RAAF Air Command
Air Command is the operational arm of the Royal Australian Air Force . It is headed by the Air Commander Australia, whose role is to manage and command the RAAF's Force Element Groups , which contain the operational capability of the Air Force...
(ACAUST) taking effect 15 December 2003.
On 23 May 2005, the Minister for Defence
Minister for Defence (Australia)
The Minister for Defence of Australia administers his portfolio through the Australian Defence Organisation, which comprises the Department of Defence and the Australian Defence Force. Stephen Smith is the current Minister.-Ministers for Defence:...
announced that, upon promotion to Air Marshal (as of 4 July 2005), Shepherd would succeed Angus Houston
Angus Houston
Air Chief Marshal Allan Grant "Angus" Houston AC, AFC is a retired senior commander of the Royal Australian Air Force and was the Chief of the Defence Force from 4 July 2005 until his retirement on 3 July 2011...
as the Chief of Air Force (CAF). In June 2006 he was elevated to Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).Citation: For distinguished service to the Australian Defence Force in senior command and staff appointments.
On 4 July 2008 his 37 year career in the RAAF came to an end with his retirement. His last official function was to be the Reviewing Officer of the Officer Training School Graduation Parade, held at RAAF Base East Sale, however due to unwanted weather conditions the Parade was cancelled. He was given one final stairway guard by the young men and women of the Australian Air Force Cadets, who were on a camp at RAAF Base East Sale at the time.
He was succeeded as CAF by Air Marshal Mark Binskin
Mark Binskin
Air Marshal Mark Donald Binskin AO is a senior officer in the Royal Australian Air Force, currently serving as Vice Chief of the Defence Force. He previously served as Chief of Air Force from 2008 until 2011.-Early life:...
.
Personal
Shepherd is known throughout the RAAF for calling out "CooeeCooee
Cooee! is a shout used in Australia, usually in the Bush, to attract attention, find missing people, or indicate one's own location. When done correctly - loudly and shrilly - a call of "cooee" can carry over a considerable distance....
", a distinctive Australian vocalisation used mainly in the outback
Outback
The Outback is the vast, remote, arid area of Australia, term colloquially can refer to any lands outside the main urban areas. The term "the outback" is generally used to refer to locations that are comparatively more remote than those areas named "the bush".-Overview:The outback is home to a...
, with which he ended his first address as Chief of Air Force.
He attended Brisbane State High School
Brisbane State High School
Brisbane State High School is a partially selective, co-educational, state secondary school, located in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is a member of the Great Public Schools' Association of Queensland, and the Queensland Girls' Secondary Schools Sports Association...
.
He is married to Anne, with whom he has two sons. His interests include gardening, rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
football, travelling and understanding other cultures.
Honours and awards
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Officer in the Order of Australia Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"... (AO) |
(2006) |
| Member of the Order of Australia (AM) | (2000) | |
| |
Australian Service Medal Australian Service Medal The Australian Service Medal is an Australian military decoration. It was authorized 13 September 1988 to recognise prescribed service in peacekeeping and non-warlike operations. It is awarded with a clasp to denote the prescribed operation and subsequent awards of the medal are made in the form of... |
with SE ASIA clasp |
| |
Defence Force Service Medal Defence Force Service Medal The Defence Force Service Medal is an Australian Military award given for long service by permanent members of the Australian Defence Force... with 4 clasps |
35–39 years service |
| |
Australian Defence Medal Australian Defence Medal The Australian Defence Medal is an Australian military decoration which recognises current and former Australian Defence Force personnel who completed an initial enlistment period, or four years service... |
|
| |
Commander of the Legion of Merit Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements... (United States) |
18 January 2007 |
| |
Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) The Pingat Jasa Gemilang , is awarded to members of the Singapore Armed Forces for exceptionally distinguished performance or extraordinary service, or the furtherance of links with overseas forces.... (Singapore) |
(Meritorious Service Medal - Military) 8 May 2007 |