Air Command is the operational arm of 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...

 (RAAF). It is headed by the Air Commander Australia, whose role is to manage and command the RAAF's Force Element Group

Force Element Group

The Force Element Groups of the Australian Defence Force are the operational capabilities.Each of the component commands has a set of FEGs. The FEG operational commanders report to the component commanders , who in turn report to the operation's Task Force commander...

s (FEGs), which contain the operational capability of the Air Force. Headquarters Air Command is located at RAAF Base Glenbrook

RAAF Base Glenbrook

RAAF Base Glenbrook is home to Headquarters Air Command of the Royal Australian Air Force. There is no airfield at Glenbrook, although it is an HLS . It is a small base in the Lower Blue Mountains outside Sydney, New South Wales, with most administrative services located on the nearby RAAF Base...

.

Air Command consists of the following FEGs:

• Air Lift Group
  Air Lift Group RAAF
  Air Lift Group is one of five Groups in the Royal Australian Air Force, which is responsible for Airlift and Air-to-Air refuelling capabilities.Airlift capabilities can be classified as:...
  
  
• Air Combat Group
  Air Combat Group RAAF
  The Royal Australian Air Force's Air Combat Group is the group which administers the RAAF's fighter and bomber aircraft. ACG was formed on 7 February 2002 by merging the RAAF's Tactical Fighter Group and Strike Reconnaissance Group in an attempt to improve the speed with which the RAAF can deploy...
  
  
• Surveillance and Response Group
  Surveillance and Response Group RAAF
  The Surveillance and Response Group is a Force Element Group of the Royal Australian Air Force with its headquarters at RAAF Base Williamtown....
  
  
• Combat Support Group
• Aerospace Operational Support Group
  Aerospace Operational Support Group RAAF
  The Aerospace Operational Support Group is a support group of the Australian Defence Force based at RAAF Base Edinburgh.-External links:*...
  
  
• Air Force Training Group

The Commander is responsible for all operational Air Force tasks, and reports to the Chief of Joint Operations

Chief of Joint Operations (Australia)

Until September 2007, the Vice Chief of the Defence Force was "double hatted" as the Chief of Joint Operations . In this role he commanded Australian Defence Force operations on behalf of the Chief of the Defence Force...

 (CJOPS). Similar arrangements exist with Commander Forces Command

Commander Forces Command (Australia)

Commander Forces Command is a senior Australian Army position created in July 2009. The incumbent holds the rank of Major General ....

 (Australian Army

Australian Army

The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...

) and Commander Australian Fleet

Commander Australian Fleet

Commander Australian Fleet , also referred to as Fleet Commander Australia , is a senior appointment in the Royal Australian Navy , holding full command of all Navy combat forces and responsibility for all maritime operations within the Australian Defence Force...

 (Royal Australian Navy

Royal Australian Navy

The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...

).

Air Command has a critical strategic role both in peace time and war time. It works closely with Air Force Training Group (formerly RAAF Training Command) and the Australian Defence Force

Australian Defence Force

The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...

's Joint Logistics Command in developing and maintaining the nation's defence capabilities.

Past Commanders

Air Command has undergone a number of changes since its formation in May 1942, both in name and location. The following table lists those Air Force officers who have been appointed to lead the Command and its headquarters in its various incarnations.

Note: The official title of each group of Commanders is listed immediately after the name of the Command.

Rank	Name	Post- Nominals	Period
HQ Eastern Area Command (Air Officers Commanding)
AVM		CBE, DFC Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...	1942 – 1943
AIRCDRE		CBE, AFC Air Force Cross (United Kingdom) The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...	1943 – 1944
AIRCDRE		CBE	1945 – 1946
AIRCDRE		CBE	1946 – 1947
AVM		CBE	1947 – 1948
AVM		CB, CBE	1949 – 1953
HQ Home Command (Air Officers Commanding)
AVM		CB, CBE	1953 – 1954
AVM		CB, CBE, AFC	1954 – 1957
AVM		CB, CBE	1958 – 1959
HQ Operational Command (Air Officers Commanding)
AVM		CB, CBE, DFC	1959 – 1961
AVM		CB, CBE	1961 – 1962
AVM		CB, CBE	1962 – 1965
AVM		CB, CBE	1965 – 1967
AVM		CBE, DFC	1967 – 1969
AVM		CB, CBE	1969 – 1973
AVM		CB, CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC	1973
AVM		AO, CBE	1974 – 1978
AVM		CBE, DFC, AFC	1978 – 1980
AVM		AFC	1980 – 1981
AVM			1981 – 1984
AVM		AM	1984 – 1985
AVM		AO	1985 – 1987
Air Headquarters Australia (Air Commanders Australia)
AVM		AO	1987 – 1990
AVM		AO, AFC	1990 – 1992
AVM		AO	1992 – 1996
AVM		AO	1996 – 1996
Headquarters Air Command (Air Commanders Australia)
AVM		AO	1996 – 1998
AVM		AM	1998 – 1999
AVM		AM, AFC	1999 – 2000
AVM		AO, AFC	2000 – 2003
AVM		AM	2003 – 2005
AVM		AM	2005 – 2007
AVM		AM	2007 – 2008
AVM		AM	2008 –