Fiona Grasby

Warrant Officer Fiona Jane Grasby, OAM is a former Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) non-commissioned officer. She served as Warrant Officer of the Air Force (WOFF-AF) from 6 November 2019 until 1 December 2022. Grasby was the first woman to serve as WOFF-AF and the first woman to be appointed a service warrant officer in the Australian Defence Force.

Fiona Grasby
AllegianceAustralia
Service/branchRoyal Australian Air Force
Years of service1987–2022
RankWarrant Officer
Commands heldWarrant Officer of the Air Force (2019–22)
Battles/warsWar in Afghanistan
Iraq War
Operation Okra
AwardsMedal of the Order of Australia

Early life

Grasby was raised in Gwandalan, New South Wales. Her father had served with the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment during the Vietnam War.[1][2]

RAAF career

Grasby joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) at age 17 in 1987.[1][3][4] She completed her initial employment training as a supplier but in 1992 remustered as security police, specialising in counterintelligence and special investigations.[1][3] Promoted to sergeant in 1999, she was appointed Senior Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Counterintelligence at No. 86 Wing RAAF. Grasby briefly transferred to the Air Force Reserve from 2001 to 2003, following the birth of her son, but returned to the Permanent Air Force as Senior Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Special Investigations for No. 386 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron RAAF. In this role, she deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Catalyst.[3][5]

Grasby was appointed a Ground Training Instructor at the RAAF Security and Fire School, RAAF Base Amberley, in 2006, promoted to flight sergeant in 2007, and posted as Base Security Officer at RAAF Base Williams. She returned to the RAAF Security and Fire School in 2009 as Course Director of the Physical and Protective Security Training Flight.[3][5] In July 2012, Grasby deployed to Afghanistan as second-in-command of the Force Protection and Security Section at Multi National Base Tarin Kot.[6] Returning to Australia in February 2013, she was posted to RAAF Base Amberley as Deputy Security Officer of No. 2 Security Forces Squadron RAAF.[3][5]

On promotion to warrant officer, Grasby was made Security Manager at No. 82 Wing RAAF in 2014. She subsequently redeployed to Iraq as Facility Security Manager for the Air Task Group – Strike on Operation Okra and, in 2016, was made executive warrant officer of No. 95 Wing RAAF.[1][3][5] She was next appointed as Air Command Warrant Officer in January 2018.[3][5] In the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours, Grasby was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for "meritorious service in the development of leadership and workforce resilience for the Australian Defence Force as a Warrant Officer in Number 82 Wing, the Executive Warrant Officer of Number 95 Wing, and as the Executive Warrant Officer of Air Command."[7]

Grasby succeeded Warrant Officer Robert Swanwick to be appointed the 9th Warrant Officer of the Air Force (WOFF-AF) on 6 November 2019.[3][5][8][9] She was the first woman to serve as WOFF-AF and the first woman to be appointed a service warrant officer in the Australian Defence Force.[8][9]

Personal life

Grasby is married and has two children, a daughter and a son.[1]

References
  1. "No. 22: Fiona Grasby". Air Force 100. Royal Australian Air Force. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  2. "Fiona Grasby OAM" (PDF). The RAM: Radschool Association Magazine. Vol. 79. April 2023. p. 3. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  3. "Warrant Officer – Air Force Fiona Grasby". Royal Australian Air Force. Archived from the original on 29 October 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  4. Bannister, Maeve (10 March 2022). "'Failure of Leadership' Across ADF: Probe". Canberra Times. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  5. "Board Members: Warrant Officer of the Air Force Fiona Grasby, OAM". Annual Report 2019–20. Royal Australian Air Force Welfare Trust Fund. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  6. Boulton, Elizabeth (2020). "The Gender Dimension". In Blaxland, John; Fielding, Marcus; Gellerfy, Thea (eds.). Niche Wars: Australia in Afghanistan and Iraq, 2001–2014 (PDF). Canberra: ANU Press. p. 259. ISBN 9781760464035.
  7. "Warrant Officer Fiona Jane Grasby". It's an Honour. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  8. Dennett, Harley (7 November 2019). "Women Reach More Leadership Roles in Defence". The Mandarin. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  9. Hartigan, Brian (6 November 2019). "RAAF Gets First Female WOFF-AF". Contact. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
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