Chief of Joint Operations (Australia)

(Redirected from CJOPS)

The Chief of Joint Operations (CJOPS) is a three-star role within the Australian Defence Force (ADF), responsible for the Joint Operations Command and joint operational deployments, such as United Nations peacekeeping and joint task groups. Until 2007, the Vice Chief of the Defence Force (VCDF) was double hatted, additionally exercising the responsibilities of CJOPS. However, in September 2007 the Minister of Defence, Brendan Nelson announced the formation of a separate CJOPS position based at the Headquarters Joint Operations Command (HQJOC) at Bungendore, New South Wales.[1]

Chief of Joint Operations
Incumbent
Vice Admiral Justin Jones
since 5 July 2024
Member ofAustralian Defence Force
Reports toChief of the Defence Force
Term length3–4 years
Inaugural holderLieutenant General
David Hurley
FormationSeptember 2007

Joint Operations Command

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The Joint Operations Command consists of Headquarters Joint Operations Command, Northern Command, and Australian Defence Force elements of the Maritime Border Command. Chief of Joint Operations is a joint position, and the incumbent can be appointed from any of the three ADF services.

Chiefs of Joint Operations

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The following list chronologically records those who have held the post of CJOPS, with rank and honours as at the completion of the individual's term.

Rank Name Postnominals Image Term began Term ended
Lieutenant General David Hurley AO, DSC   September 2007 July 2008
Lieutenant General Mark Evans AO, DSC   July 2008 May 2011
Lieutenant General Ash Power AO, CSC   May 2011 20 May 2014
Vice Admiral David Johnston AO   20 May 2014[2] 24 May 2018
Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld AO, DSC   24 May 2018 1 July 2019
Lieutenant General Greg Bilton AO, CSC   1 July 2019 5 July 2024
Vice Admiral Justin Jones AO, CSC 5 July 2024 Incumbent

Deputy Chief of Joint Operations

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Rank Name Postnominals Term began Term ended Notes
Rear Admiral Rowan Moffitt AO 2005 2008 [3]
Air Vice Marshal Greg Evans DSC, AM 2008 2009
Major General Ash Power AM, CSC 2009 2010
Rear Admiral Ray Griggs AM, CSC May 2010 June 2011
Rear Admiral Steve Gilmore AM, CSC December 2011 November 2013 [4]
Major General Shane Caughey AM, CSC November 2013 November 2015
Major General Stuart Smith AO, DSC November 2015 April 2017
Major General Greg Bilton AM, CSC April 2017 December 2018
Major General Roger Noble DSC, AM, CSC 2019 September 2019
Rear Admiral Jaimie Hatcher DSC, AM September 2019 August 2021 [5]
Air Vice Marshal Michael Kitcher AM, DSM August 2021 January 2024
Rear Admiral Justin Jones AO, CSC January 2024 July 2024
Major General Hugh McAslan DSD 1 October 2024 The first New Zealand Army officer to hold this post. [6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Minister of Defence Press Release MIN99/07 19 September 2007 Archived 30 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "New Chief of Joint Operations announced". Defence News. Department of Defence. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  3. ^ "Rear Admiral Rowan Carlisle Moffitt". Who's Who in Australia Online. ConnectWeb. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Rear Admiral Steve Gilmore, AM, CSC, RAN" (PDF). Embassy of Australia, Washington DC. Australian Government. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  5. ^ O'Hara, Veronica (4 October 2019). "ADF Welcomes New Deputy Operations Chief". Defence News. Department of Defence. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  6. ^ "New Zealand Defence Force Major General Hugh McAslan appointed as Deputy Chief of Joint Operations". Defence Media Release. Department of Defence. 2 October 2024. Retrieved 3 October 2024.