Mel Hupfeld

Air Marshal Melvin Ernest Glanville Hupfeld, AO, DSC (born 7 March 1962) is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Air Force. He served as Air Commander Australia from 2012 to 2014 and was the acting and final Chief Capability Development Group (2015–16), before being appointed as Head Force Design in the Vice Chief of the Defence Force Group (2016–18). He was promoted air marshal and made Chief of Joint Operations in May 2018, and succeeded Air Marshal Leo Davies as Chief of Air Force in July 2019.

Mel Hupfeld
Hupfeld in 2013
Born (1962-03-07) 7 March 1962
Sydney, New South Wales
AllegianceAustralia
Service/branchRoyal Australian Air Force
Years of service1980–2022
RankAir Marshal
Commands heldChief of Air Force (2019–22)
Chief of Joint Operations (2018–19)
Head Force Design (2016–18)
Chief Capability Development Group (2015–16)
Air Commander Australia (2012–14)
Air Combat Group RAAF (2010–11)
No. 81 Wing RAAF (2006–07)
No. 75 Squadron RAAF (2001–03)
Battles/warsIraq War
AwardsOfficer of the Order of Australia
Distinguished Service Cross
Bronze Star (United States)
Officer of the National Order of Merit (France)
Meritorious Service Medal (Singapore)
Gugseon Medal of the Order of National Security Merit (South Korea)
Air Force Meritorious Service Star, First Class (Indonesia)

Early life and education

Hupfeld was born in Sydney, New South Wales, on 7 March 1962, and joined the Royal Australian Air Force as an Officer Cadet in 1980.[1] He finished his training in 1983, won the 'Flying Prize' and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. He completed a Master of Arts degree in Defence Studies at King's College London in 1997.[2]

RAAF career

During Hupfeld's career he has flown the Dassault Mirage III and McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet flying mainly with No. 3 Squadron RAAF. Hupfeld was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross on 27 November 2003 for his command of No. 75 Squadron RAAF during Operation Falconer,[3] and the squadron was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation.[2]

Hupfeld has commanded several RAAF units during his career, including No. 75 Squadron RAAF, No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit RAAF, No. 81 Wing RAAF, and Air Combat Group RAAF. Hupfeld was promoted to air vice marshal and appointed as Air Commander Australia on 3 February 2012. He moved to the Capability Development Group, as Head Capability Systems, in September 2014,[4] before being appointed the acting and final Chief Capability Development Group in 2015, and then Head Force Design in the Vice Chief of the Defence Force Group from 2016.[5]

Hupfeld was promoted air marshal and appointed Chief of Joint Operations on 24 May 2018.[6] He succeeded Air Marshal Leo Davies as Chief of Air Force on 3 July 2019.[7]

Hupfeld was appointed an Officer of the National Order of Merit by the French government on 15 February 2021. The award recognised his contribution to bilateral Australian–French military cooperation, most notably "in the fight against Daesch in the Middle-East and in ... combined defence and security operations in the South Pacific" as Chief of Joint Operations.[8] On 14 September 2021 he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by Singapore's Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen.[9] Hupfeld was also awarded the Air Force Meritorious Service Star, First Class by Indonesia on 23 February 2022.[10]

Personal life

Hupfeld is married to Louise and his interests include cycling, running, fishing, light aircraft, hang-gliding and sailing.[11]

References
  1. "Air Vice-Marshals (A-K)". Air Marshals of the RAAF. RAAF Air Power Development Centre. Archived from the original on 6 July 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  2. "Chief of Joint Operations". Department of Defence. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  3. It's an Honour Distinguished Service Cross retrieved 6 June 2012
  4. "New RAAF Air Commander". Australian Aviation. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  5. "Vice Chief of the Defence Force Group Organisational Chart" (PDF).
  6. Marise Payne [@MarisePayne] (24 May 2018). "Chief of Joint Operations Transition of Authority Ceremony" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. "New Australian Air Force Chief Appointed". SBS News. 28 March 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  8. "Air marshal Mel Hupfel, appointed as an Officer in the National Order of Merit". French Embassy in Australia. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  9. "Australian Chief of Air Force Receives Prestigious Military Award: 14 September 2021".
  10. "AIRMSHL Mel Hupfeld awarded Air Force Meritorious Service Star: 23 February 2022". Twitter.
  11. "Biography - Air Vice Marshal Mel Hupfeld" (PDF). Department of Defence, Australian Government. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
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