Air Chief Marshal Allan (Angus) Grant Houston, AO, AFC, is the Chief of the Australian Defence Forces as of 4 July 2005. At the time of his appointment he was Australia's Chief of the Air Force (RAAF), a position he had held since 20 June 2001. Image File history File links AU_ACM_AG_Houston. ... The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established by Queen Elizabeth II on February 14, 1975 for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service. The Order includes three classes in general and military divisions, in descending order of... AFC is a TLA that may stand for: Aberdeen Football Club Air Force Cross Alabama Forestry Commission Alkaline fuel cell American Football Conference of the National Football League Arsenal Football Club Asian Football Confederation Association Football Club Australian Flying Corps Automatic Fine Tuning Control Automatic Frequency Control, circuit that locks... The Australian Defence Force (ADF) consists of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Regular Army (ARA), and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). ... July 4 is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 180 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. ... June 20 is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 194 days remaining. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ...

Service Career

Air Chief Marshal Houston joined the RAAF as a cadet pilot in 1970 and spent the early part of his career flying UH-1 Iroquois helicopters in various parts of Australia, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. // Overview The Bell UH-1 Iroquois, commonly (or officially in the USMC) known as the Huey, was a multipurpose military helicopter developed by the US Army, famous for its use in the Vietnam war. ... The Bell 206 of Canadian Helicopters Robinson Helicopter Company (USA) R44, a four seat development of the R22 A helicopter is an aircraft which is lifted and propelled by one or more horizontal rotors (propellers). ...

After graduation from Flying Instructors Course in 1975, Houston completed several instructional tours on Macchi MB-326H, British Aircraft Corporation Strikemaster and Iroquois aircraft. A posting to the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) from 1976-1978 was followed by two years at No 9 Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley. In late 1979, Houston was posted to Hill Air Force Base, Utah U.S.A. for exchange flying duties with a United States Air Force helicopter unit. The Aermacchi or Macchi MB-326 is a two-seat military jet trainer aircraft designed in Italy. ... The British Aircraft Corporation, or BAC, was a British aircraft manufacturer, formed from the forced merger of the Bristol Aeroplane Company, English Electric, Vickers-Armstrong and Hunting Aircraft Company in 1959. ... The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF, Chinese: 新加坡空军部队) was established in 1968 and was at that time called the Singapore Air Defence Command (SADC), it was later named the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) in 1975. ... RAAF Base Amberley is currently home to No. ... Hill Air Force Base is an Air Force Materiel Command base of the United States Air Force. ... Utah is one of the Four Corners states, and is bordered by: Idaho (at 42°N) and Wyoming (at 41°N and 111°W) in the north, by Colorado (at 109°W) in the east, at a single point by New Mexico to the southeast (at the Four Corners Monument... For other uses, see United States (disambiguation) and US (disambiguation). ... The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aviation branch of the United States armed forces. ...

In 1980 he was awarded the Air Force Cross (AFC) for an open sea rescue in gale force winds the previous year off the coast of Western Australia. Motto: Cygnis Insignis (Distinguished by its swans) Nickname: Wildflower State Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Government Governor Premier Const. ...

After a further posting to No 9 Squadron as the Executive Officer, and staff training at RAAF Staff College, Houston was posted to the Department of Air (Development Division) where he was involved in the Blackhawk helicopter Project. In 1987, Houston assumed command of No 9 Squadron to introduce the Blackhawk helicopter, to relocate the unit from Amberley to Townsville, Queensland, and to transfer the capability to the Australian Army. In 1989 he served one year as a Squadron Commander with the 5th Aviation Regiment. Houston was admitted as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1990 for his work in the transfer of responsibility for Blackhawk operations. The term Blackhawk can refer to: a native American leader (Black Hawk) the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter Blackhawk, a comic book Blackhawk is a make of car. ... Townsville redirects here. ... The Australian Army Emblem The Australian Army is Australias military land force. ...

Following graduation from Joint Services Staff College, Houston was posted to the Joint Operations staff at Headquarters Australian Defence Force and was involved in strategic planning during the Persian Gulf War of 1990/91. The Australian Defence Force numbers about 53,000 active duty personnel. ... See also: 2003 invasion of Iraq and Gulf War (disambiguation) C Company, 1st Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment, 1st UK Armoured Division The Persian Gulf War was a conflict between Iraq and a coalition force of 34 nations led by the United States. ...

On promotion to Group Captain in July 1992, he assumed the post of Director Air Force Policy and negotiated the establishment of the RSAF Flying School at RAAF Base Pearce. After completing a C-130H conversion in 1993, Houston commanded No 86 Wing from 1994-95. A Group Captains sleeve/shoulder insignia A Group Captains command flag Group Captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. ... RAAF Base Pearce (ICAO:YPEA, 31. ... The Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a four-engine turboprop aircraft, is the main tactical air transport aircraft of the United States and UK military forces. ...

Houston attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in London in 1996. He was Chief of Staff, Headquarters Australian Theatre in 1997-99, Commander Integrated Air Defence System from 1999-2000 and Head Strategic Command from 17 August 2000. The Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) is an internationally-renowned institution and component of the United Kingdoms National Defence Academy. ... Part of the London skyline viewed from the South Bank London is the most populous city in the European Union, with an estimated population on 1 January 2005 of 7. ...

Air Marshal Houston was appointed as Chief of Air Force (CAF) on 20 June 2001, and in the 2003 Australia Day Honours, promoted to Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).

On 4 July 2005 he became Chief of the Australian Defence Force (CDF) and was promoted to Air Chief Marshal. An Air Chief Marshals sleeve/shoulder insignia Air Chief Marshal is the most senior rank active in the Royal Air Force (RAF) today, after the inactivation of Marshal of the Royal Air Force as a substantive rank in peacetime during defence cuts of the 1990s. ...

Personal

Air Marshal Houston is married to Liz who is a teacher, and they have three sons.

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... 2005 (MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Air Marshall Geoffrey D. Shepherd is Air Commander of the Royal Australian Air Force and, on 23 May 2005, was announced as the Chief of Air Force as of 4 July 2005 on promotion, replacing Air Marshall Angus Houston. ... General Peter Cosgrove AC, MC, at the CDF Change of Command ceremony at the ADF Headquarters in Canberra, 3 July 2002. ... The Australian Defence Force numbers about 53,000 active duty personnel. ... 2005 (MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

References

• Australian Department of Defence. Biography - Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Allan (Angus) Grant Houston, AO, AFC
• ABC News. Airman to succeed Cosgrove as Defence chief