Page 162 - Australian Defence Magazine November 2021

162 FROM THE SOURCE AIR MARSHAL MEL HUPFELD
NOVEMBER 2021 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
AIR MARSHAL MEL HUPFELD
CHIEF OF AIR FORCE | CANBERRA
The Royal Australian Air Force is today a highly competent and professional force of men and women, operating cutting-edge platforms and technologies and providing support and surety
to the Australian Government as required.
As the service celebrates its 100th anniversary and looks forward with confidence to the next 100 years, Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld answers questions from ADM Editor Nigel Pittaway.
ADM: Are you pleased with the RAAF 100th anniversary celebrations in light of the constraints imposed by CO- VID-19?
AM HUPFELD: It is a very proud moment for me to be the Chief of Air Force during this important milestone in our history. The motto of our centenary is “Then.
the quality and diversity of today’s force as an important com- ponent of the joint force. As an example, there was a 900 per cent increase in Air Force YouTube followers in the 12 months leading up to our 100th anniversary on 31 March 2021.
There have been many highlights of the Centenary program. These include Her Majesty the Queen visit- ing the Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede on 31 March, HRH Prince William Duke of Cambridge recording a special video mes- sage, and the Governor-General presenting a new Queen’s Colour to the RAAF – a once in a generation event. In Canberra we conduct- ed a welcome ceremony which recognised In- digenous members’ service through our his- tory, a special memorial service on ANZAC Parade, and a commemorative flypast of more than 60 current and heritage aircraft. Addi- tionally, there have been commemorative ac- tivities, within COVID-19 constraints, at all bases in Australia, our main Middle East base and a number of Australian High Commis-
Now. Always.” This simple theme en- compasses Air Force’s journey of ser-
vice, sacrifice, and unswerving com- 2019 mitment to our nation over the past
100 years and into the future. 2018
This year, we honour the service 2016 and sacrifice of over 350,000 person-
nel who have served the Australian 2015 people as members of the Air Force,
and we particularly remember the
over 11,000 Air Force members who 2014 lost their lives while serving Australia.
The Air Force Centenary pro- 2012 gram (Air Force 2021) has been a 2009 very special opportunity to recog-
nise the service and sacrifice of pre- 2008 vious generations of Air Force men
and women, demonstrate the highly 2007 capable force of today and foreshad-
ow how Air Force will continue to 2006 evolve in our second century. 2004
From the outset, the AF2021 pro-
gram was planned as a ‘digital first’ initiative – to share the stories of our 2001 first century with the entire nation
and broaden public understanding 1997 of how Air Force has supported Aus-
tralia’s interests in both conflict and
peace. While COVID-19 has limited 1995 Air Force’s ability to conduct physical 1989 events, our digital engagement has
been extremely successful in high- lighting Air Force’s achievements in
its first 100 years and demonstrating
PROFILE
Chief of Air Force
Chief of Joint Operations
Head Force Design in VCDF Force Group
Acting Chief Capability Development Group
Head Capability Systems Division
Air Commander Australia
Commander Air Combat Group
DG Air/ Director General Air Command Operations
Director of the CAOC in the MEAO
Officer Commanding 81 Wing
Director Aerospace Combat Development ADF HQ
Commanding Officer 75 Squadron
Master of Arts in Defence Studies, King’s College London- RAF Advanced Staff Course
Executive Officer of 2 OCU
Fighter Combat Instructor – F/A-18
sions and Embassies around the world.
The Air Force Centenary year will run through to 31 March 2022. Notably, Air Force is planning to dedicate a new Me- morial at our original base – Point Cook – early next year. The event will be scaled and arranged to comply with COVID-19
health directions.
I am enormously proud of the Cente-
nary program. It has been a modest but very appropriate reflection of Air Force’s enduring commitment to support Austra- lia and Australians, and our ability to con- tinue to adapt as the strategic environment changes, particularly in the relatively new domains of cyber and space.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 153
1983 Bachelor of Science – RAAF Academy