Angus Houston

Air Chief Marshal Allan Grant Houston AC AFC
Angus Houston at the 2010 Anzac Day National Ceremony, Canberra.
Nickname	Angus
Born	(1947-06-09) 9 June 1947 (age 64) Ayrshire, Scotland
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Royal Australian Air Force
Years of service	1970–2011
Rank	Air Chief Marshal
Commands held	Chief of the Defence Force Chief of Air Force No. 86 Wing 5th Aviation Regiment No. 9 Squadron
Awards	Companion of the Order of Australia Air Force Cross Meritorious Service Medal – Military (Singapore) Knight Grand Commander of the Order of Military Service (Malaysia) Commander of the Legion of Honour (France) Distinguished Service Order (Military) (Singapore) Medal of the Order of Timor-Leste (East Timor) Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands)

Air Chief Marshal Allan Grant "Angus" Houston AC, AFC (born 9 June 1947) is a retired senior commander of the Royal Australian Air Force and was the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) from 4 July 2005 until his retirement on 3 July 2011. At the time of his appointment as CDF he was Chief of Air Force (CAF), a position he had held since 20 June 2001.

Early life

Houston was born on 9 June 1947 in Ayrshire, Scotland and educated at Strathallan School in Forgandenny, Perthshire. He emigrated to Australia in 1968^[1] to work as a jackaroo on a cattle station in north-west Western Australia. It was there that his workmates dubbed him "Angus", due to his strong Scottish accent.^[2]

Service career

Early career

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.

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.

In 1980 he was awarded the Air Force Cross (AFC) for an open sea rescue in gale force winds off the coast of New South Wales in 1979.^[3]

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 Black Hawk helicopter Project. In 1987, Houston assumed command of No. 9 Squadron to introduce the Black Hawk 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 military division of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1990 for his work in the transfer of responsibility for Blackhawk operations.^[4]

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 1990–1991.

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 Hercules conversion in 1993, Houston commanded No. 86 Wing from 1994–1995.

Houston attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in London in 1996. He was Chief of Staff, Headquarters Australian Theatre (HQAST) in 1997–1999, Commander Integrated Air Defence System from 1999–2000 and Head Strategic Command from 17 August 2000.

Chief of Air Force

Houston was appointed as Chief of Air Force (CAF) on 20 June 2001 and, in the 2003 Australia Day Honours, advanced to Officer of the military division of the Order of Australia (AO).^[5] As acting Chief of the Defence Force in 2001, Houston played a central role in the Children Overboard Affair. At a Senate inquiry in February 2002, Houston challenged the then government's claim made during the 2001 election campaign, that sea-faring asylum seekers had thrown children overboard in a presumed ploy to secure rescue and passage to Australia.^[6][7]

Chief of the Defence Force

On 4 July 2005, Houston was promoted to Air Chief Marshal and appointed Chief of the Defence Force (CDF). In the Australia Day Honours of 26 January 2008, he was advanced to a Companion of the Order of Australia.^[8] On 19 March 2008, it was announced that Houston's appointment had been extended to 3 July 2011.^[9]

Post-service appointment

After his retirement from the CDF position, on 6 July 2011 the Australian Government appointed Houston as Chair of the Anzac Centenary Advisory Board, with the remit to "provide strategic advice and recommendations on the planning and implementation of Anzac Centenary events".^[10]

Personal life

Houston and his wife Liz, who is a teacher, have three sons.^[11]

On 26 July 2010, Houston announced he would be taking medical leave to deal with prostate issues.^[12][13]

In attendance at the 2008 Anzac Day National Service at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra are (left to right):
Angus Houston, then CDF;
Murray Gleeson, then Chief Justice of Australia;
Mrs. Stanhope;
Jon Stanhope, then Chief Minister of the A.C.T.;
Mrs. Cosgrove;
Peter Cosgrove, then immediate past CDF;
Kevin Rudd, then Prime Minister of Australia.

Honours and awards

	Companion of the Order of Australia (AC)	(Military division) 2008[8]
	Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)	(Military division) 2003[5]
	Member of the Order of Australia (AM)	(Military division) 1990[4]
	Air Force Cross (AFC)	1980[3]
	Australian Service Medal 1945-1975
	Centenary Medal	2001[14]
	Defence Force Service Medal with Federation Star	40–44 years of service
	Australian Defence Medal
	Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) (Singapore)	(Meritorious Service Medal – Military) 1 August 2003[15]
	Panglima Gagah Angkatan Tentera (Malaysia)	(Order of Military Service, Knight Grand Commander)
	Légion d'honneur (France)	(Commander of the Legion of Honour)
	Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera) (Singapore)	(Distinguished Service Order – Military) 24 August 2007[16]
	Medal of the Order of Timor-Leste[17]	2 February 2011[18]
	Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands)	(Military division - "with crossed swords") 18 May 2011[19]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Angus Houston

• ADF Leaders page entry
• Australian Department of Defence. Biography – Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Allan (Angus) Grant Houston AC, AFC
• ABC News. Airman to succeed Cosgrove as Defence chief

Copyright photos

• Official photo (copyright)
• ACM Houston in evening dress at a Defence Reserves charity function. (source)
• Chief of Air Force AM Houston, Operation Sumatra Assist, Indonesia, 2005.
• Chief of Air Force, ANZAC Day 2005.

v t e Chiefs of the Defence Force Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee Sir Henry Wells Sir Roy Dowling Sir Frederick Scherger Sir John Wilton Sir Victor Smith Francis Hassett Chief of Defence Force Staff Sir Francis Hassett Sir Arthur MacDonald Sir Anthony Synnot Sir Neville McNamara Sir Phillip Bennett Chief of the Defence Force Sir Phillip Bennett Peter Gration Alan Beaumont John Baker Chris Barrie Peter Cosgrove Angus Houston David Hurley

v t e Chiefs of the Royal Australian Air Force Chief of the Air Staff Richard Williams Stanley Goble Richard Williams Stanley Goble Richard Williams Stanley Goble William Anderson Sir Charles Burnett George Jones Sir Donald Hardman Sir John McCauley Sir Frederick Scherger Sir Valston Hancock Sir Alister Murdoch Sir Colin Hannah Sir Charles Read Sir James Rowland Sir Neville McNamara David Evans John Newham Ray Funnell Barry Gration Les Fisher Chief of Air Force Les Fisher Errol McCormack Angus Houston Geoff Shepherd Mark Binskin Geoff Brown