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|  |
Kym Osley | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1959 |
| Nationality | Australia |
| Other names | Koz |
| Occupation | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Spouse |
Debbie Osley (m. 2000) |
Air Vice-Marshal (Australia) Kym 'Koz' Osley AM, CSC (born 1959) is a retired senior commander of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He joined the RAAF in 1977 and trained as a Weapons Systems Officer on fast jet aircraft. He has deployed to the Middle East, commanded No 1 Squadron RAAF (1997-1999) and No. 82 Wing RAAF (2002-2004), and led No 1 Squadron on operations over East Timor in 1999. He served as Commander Air Combat Group RAAF from 2007-2008, Head of Defence Staff (Washington) from 2008-2010 and Program Manager of the Australian F-35 Program in 2010-2013. His final position prior to transitioning to the Active Air Force Reserve was as Head Capability Transition-Air Force in 2014. He still serves in the Air Force Reserve as a two-star officer.
Early life edit
Osley grew up in Adelaide, South Australia and was a member of the South Australian Air Training Corps (1973-76) which increased his motivation for a career in aviation.
RAAF career edit
Osley joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in January 1977 as a member of No 30 Course RAAF Academy at Point Cook where he gained a Bachelor of Science and a Graduate Diploma of Military Aviation before graduating from No 60 Navigator Course at RAAF Base East Sale in 1982.[1] He then completed introductory fighter training on the Macchi MB-326 at No 2 Operational Conversion Unit before undertaking F-111C conversion training at RAAF Base Amberley.[2]
Osley flew in F-111 strike aircraft with No 1 Squadron before moving with his young family to the US to fly RF-4C Phantom aircraft on exchange with the 12 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron of the United States Air Force out of Bergstrom AFB in Texas.[3] He was appointed as a Flight Commander in the squadron and deployed with the unit to Europe during the Cold War, operating from Zweibruchen in West Germany. On return to Australia in 1988, he transitioned to RF-111C aircraft and along with his pilot was awarded Top Crew at the international Reconnaissance Air Meet held that year in the US. Later in 1988 he was promoted to Squadron Leader and flew as Operational Training Flight Commander with No 6 Squadron RAAF (F-111C/RF-111C) until 1990.
In the period 1990-93, Osley was responsible for major strike-reconnaissance projects within Capability Development (Air) Branch including the Avionics Update Program for the Australian F-111 fleet and the purchase of an additional 15 F-111G aircraft. Following RAAF Staff College training in 1994, Osley was appointed as the Royal Australian Air Force strategic planner for three years which included a period in 1996 when he was seconded to host the RAF Red Arrows Formation Aerobatic Team visit to Australia. He gained a Master of Defence Studies through UNSW in 1997. Later that year he became Commanding Officer of No 1 Squadron RAAF and led the F-111 squadron on operations over East Timor in 1999.
On promotion to Group Captain in late 1999, Osley was posted as the Air Force’s Senior Representative to the United Kingdom which included flying in several RAF aircraft, including the Tornado, Harrier, E-3D, Nimrod, and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Avro Lancaster. In 2002 he undertook senior staff studies and gained a Master of Arts (Strategic Studies) before being appointed Officer Commanding No 82 Wing. In mid-2004 he was posted on promotion to Air Commodore to be the inaugural Director General Capability and Plans in the Capability Development Group in Canberra. In this role he acted as the Australian Defence Force's 'force designer' and assisted with planning the future force structure for the Australian Defence Force out to 20+ years.
Osley deployed as Director of the Coalition Air Operations Centre in the Middle East in the period 2006-2007.[4] On return to Australia in 2007, he took up the appointment of Commander Air Combat Group (which operated the F-18, F-111, PC-9(FAC) and Hawk aircraft).[5] After undertaking the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in early 2008, Osley was promoted to Air Vice-Marshal and appointed as Head of Australian Defence Staff (Washington) in mid-2008 where he was the most senior Australian Defence representative in the US.[6] In December 2010, Osley returned to Australia to take up the position of Program Manager for the Australian F-35. In December 2013, Osley moved to his final permanent Air Force position of Head Capability Transition in Air Force Headquarters and retired from full-time duty in late 2014 after attending the acceptance ceremony for the first two RAAF F-35 aircraft in Fort Worth, Texas.[7]
Post RAAF career edit
Osley transitioned to the Air Force Active Reserve in late 2014 and has had various roles in the Reserves, including supporting Defence Industry Division and more recently as Chair of the Australian Air Force Cadets Foundation.[8] He was also a Managing Director in the global consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers in the period 2015-2021 and also a member of the PWC Global Government Defence Network Board. In April 2019, Osley was awarded a Defence Industry Service Commendation by the Minister for Defence Industry for 'outstanding achievements and dedication in the application of skills, judgement and innovation in the defence industry sector'.[9] Osley retired from PWC and became the NSW Defence Advocate in 2020-21 before taking up several Board positions including with Quickstep Technologies, PWR Holdings, Elbit Systems Australia and LeoLabs.
Personal life edit
Osley is married to Debbie and they have three adult sons.[10] He is also the Patron of the Australian Federation Guard, a Patron of the 467-463 Squadrons Queensland Association, a Master Air Navigator of the Honorable Company of Air Pilots, a Fellow of the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies and is Executive Secretary (and a Fellow) of the Australian Institute of Navigation.[11] He has written a military biography about his great-Uncle, Captain (Army) Joe Backhouse, and restores classic cars, reads military history and is an avid cyclist in his spare time.[12]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by
Rear Admiral Raydon Gates |
Head Defence Staff Washington
2008-2010 |
Succeeded by
Major General Timothy McOwan |
| Preceded by
Air Vice Marshal John Harvey |
Program Manager New Air Combat Capability
2010-2013 |
Succeeded by
Air Vice-Marshal Christopher Deeble |
Categories
References edit
- ^ "Graduation from No 60 Navigator Course at RAAF". Air Force Cadets.
- ^ "Introductory Fighter Training". Air Force Cadets.
- ^ "Piloting F-111 Strike Aircraft". Air Force Cadets.
- ^ "Director of the Coalition Air Operations Centre". Air Force Cadets.
- ^ "Commander Air Combat Group". Air Force Cadets.
- ^ "Air Vice-Marshal - Head of Australian Defence Staff (Washington)". C-Span.
- ^ "Head Capability Transition in Air Force Headquarters". Air Force Cadets.
- ^ "Chair of the Australian Air Force Cadets Foundation". Air Force Cadets.
- ^ "Defence Industry Service Commendation". Australian Government Defence.
- ^ "Marriage and Family". Air Force Cadets.
- ^ "Memberships and Associations". Air Force Cadets.
- ^ "Hobbies and Passions". Air Force Cadets.