image-1 = images/AirMarshal/1.jpg
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description-1 = Air Marshal Gavin (Leo) Davies, then serving as Officer Commanding Number 82 Wing, gives an interview during the Exercise Red Flag 06 media day at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Davies joined the RAAF as a cadet navigator in 1979. (Credit - Defence)
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image-2 = images/AirMarshal/2.jpg
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description-2 = AIRMSHL Davies, serving as Deputy Chief of the Air Force, listens to the welcome home speech conducted by the Chief Joint Operations in 2012. After nearly 10 years of operational service in the Middle East, the final AP-3C Orion aircraft from 92 Wing, RAAF Base Edinburgh, returned home to Australia. (Credit - Defence)
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image-3 = images/AirMarshal/3.jpg
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description-3 = AIRMSHL Davies, then serving as Officer Commanding Number 82 Wing, plans missions for Exercise Red Flag with Major Kristin Goodwin of the US Air Force Expeditionary Force Command Core Staff. (Credit - Defence)
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image-4 = images/AirMarshal/4.jpg
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description-4 = AIRMSHL Davies, serving as Deputy Chief of the Air Force, joins Air Marshal Mark Binskin; Chief of the Defence Force, General David Hurley; Chief of the Turkish Defence Forces, General Mehmet Erten; Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Brown; and Program Manager New Air Combat Capability Air Vice-Marshal Kym Osley to meet Chief of the Turkish Defence Forces. (Credit - Defence)
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image-5 = images/AirMarshal/5.jpg
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description-5 = Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC appoints AIRMSHL Davies an Officer in the Military Division: The Order of Australia, at Government House, Canberra. (Credit - Defence)
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image-6 = images/AirMarshal/6.jpg
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description-6 = AIRMSHL Davies welcomes home the last Heron Detachment, Rotation 15 at Darwin Airport. Heron is Air Force’s first unmanned aerial system and entered service directly into Afghanistan after Air Force and Army personnel undertook training in Canada in July 2009. (Credit - Defence)
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image-7 = images/AirMarshal/7.jpg
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description-7 = 2015 - Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, AC, speaks to the media about the new Defence Force Service Chiefs team. (Credit - Defence)
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image-8 = images/AirMarshal/8.jpg
title-8 =
description-8 = Chief of Air Force AIRMSHL Davies, AO, CSC, and the Chief of Defence Force ACM Binskin, AC, attend the Royal Australian Air Force 95th anniversary ceremony held at RAAF Memorial Grove on the Federal Highway, Canberra. (Credit - Defence)
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image-9 = images/AirMarshal/9.jpg
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description-9 = AIRMSHL Davies visits elements of Operation OKRA deployed to the Middle East including Strike, Combined Air Operations Centre and Combat Support Units over the period 3-5 February 2017. AIRMSHL Davies visited the Middle East to oversee the Transfer of Authority Ceremony for Commander Air Task Group from Air Commodore Phil Gordon to Air Commodore Mike Kitcher OAM. (Credit - Defence)
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description-10 = AIRMSHL Davies (left) and Warrant Officer of the Air Force, Warrant Officer Robert Swanwick (right) walk along the flightline with Warrant Officer Engineering, Warrant Officer Kevin Jago during their visit to Australia's main operating base in the Middle East region. (Credit - Defence)
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description-11 = AIRMSHL Davies addresses the media during the ceremony welcoming the first two F-35A aircraft to RAAF Base Williamtown.(Credit - Defence)
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description-12 = AIRMSHL Davies (left) receives a US Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) coin from Assistant to the Commander, PACAF, Major General James O. Eifert, which flew in the F-35A piloted by Commanding Officer No. 3 Squadron, Wing Commander Darren Clare (right). (Credit - Defence)
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Photo Essay: Chief of Air Force hands over command
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Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Leo Davies, has officially handed over command of the Royal Australian Air Force at a formal Change of Command Ceremony and parade.
Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Leo Davies, has officially handed over command of the Royal Australian Air Force at a formal Change of Command Ceremony and parade.
Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld takes over from AIRMSHL Davies, who has completed four decades of "exemplary service" in the RAAF.
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"The government extends its sincere gratitude to Air Marshal Davies, who has been relentless in embedding a culture of innovation and integration that will continue to shape the Air Force for generations to come," a release from Defence said.
AIRMSHL Davies said it has been a privilege to lead the RAAF for the last four years.
“I have been fortunate to have spent most of my life in this wonderful institution with its long record of service to our nation,” Air Marshal Davies said.
“I am grateful for the tireless support of my family throughout my career, and for the dedication and commitment of all the men and women of the RAAF during my time as Chief.”
AIRMSHL Hupfeld was serving as Chief Joint Operations before his promotion to Chief of Air Force, and that position will now be filled by Major General Greg Bilton, who was serving as Commander Forces Command within Army.
Air Marshal Hupfeld said it was both an incredible honour and a substantial responsibility to be taking over command of Air Force.
“Our people are the key to our capability, and it is humbling to have been chosen to lead them,” Air Marshal Hupfeld said.
“I am grateful for the enduring legacy of Air Marshal Davies’ leadership, with today’s RAAF on a strong and solid vector for the future.”
Defence noted AIRMSHL Hupfeld's "extensive leadership and operational experience through senior positions including Air Commander Australia and Head Force Design makes him ideally suited to continue the development of the Air Force as a modern and effective force capable of undertaking regional and global operations".
Please scroll through the image library above for a look at some moments of AIRMSHL Davies' 40-year career in the Air Force.
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