Air Vice Marshal Air vice-marshal (Air Vce Mshl or AVM) is an air officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many Commonwealth of Nations, countries which have historical British infl ...

Gavin Alexander Turnbull, is a retired senior commander in the

Royal Australian Air Force The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the principal Air force, aerial warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Army. Constitutionally the Governor-Gener ...

(RAAF). He joined the RAAF in 1984, trained as a helicopter pilot, and transferred to fast jets in 1991. He has commanded No. 77 Squadron RAAF (2002–04),

No. 81 Wing RAAF No. 81 Wing is responsible for operating the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II multi-role fighters of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Headquartered at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, the wing comprises three combat units, Nos. ...

(2007–11) and the 609th Combined Air Operations Centre (2012), and deployed on operations to the

Sinai Peninsula The Sinai Peninsula, or simply Sinai ( ; ; ; ), is a peninsula in Egypt, and the only part of the country located in Asia. It is between the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Red Sea to the south, and is a land bridge between Asia and Afri ...

Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...

and

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the Durand Line, east and south, Iran to the Afghanistan–Iran borde ...

. He served as

Air Commander Australia An atmosphere () is a layer of gases that envelop an astronomical object, held in place by the gravity of the object. A planet retains an atmosphere when the gravity is great and the temperature of the atmosphere is low. A stellar atmosphere ...

from 2014 to 2017, and Deputy Chief of Air Force from May 2017 to July 2019.

RAAF career

Turnbull enlisted in

(RAAF) in 1984, trained as a helicopter pilot, and was commissioned a

pilot officer Pilot officer (Plt Off or P/O) is a junior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. Pilot officer is the lowest ran ...

on probation on 21 September. He then joined No. 9 Squadron RAAF at

RAAF Base Amberley RAAF Base Amberley is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) military airbase located southwest of Ipswich, Queensland in Australia and southwest of Brisbane CBD. It is the largest military airbase in Australia. Amberley is one of two defence ...

Ipswich, Queensland Ipswich () is an urban centre within the City of Ipswich in South East Queensland, Australia. Situated on the Bremer River (Queensland), Bremer River, it is approximately 40 km (25 mi) west of the Brisbane central business district. Ipswich is ...

, flying

Bell UH-1H Iroquois The Bell UH-1 Iroquois military helicopter, first introduced in 1959, is the first production member of Bell Helicopter's prolific Huey family of helicopters, and was itself developed in over twenty variants, which are listed below. XH-40 and YH ...

helicopters. His four-year posting with the squadron included a short deployment with the

Multinational Force and Observers The Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) is an international peacekeeping force overseeing the terms of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. The MFO generally operates in and around the Sinai peninsula, ensuring free navigation through ...

on the

, for which he received the

Australian Service Medal The Australian Service Medal is an Australian military decoration. It was authorised 13 September 1988 to recognise prescribed service in peacekeeping and non-warlike operations. It is awarded with a clasp to denote the prescribed operation and ...

with "Sinai" clasp. Turnbull was granted a permanent commission on 14 August 1986. In 1989, he trained as a flying instructor and was thereafter posted to

RAAF Base Pearce RAAF Base Pearce is the main Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) military air base in Western Australia, located in Bullsbrook, north of Perth. It is used for training by the RAAF and the Republic of Singapore Air Force. Pearce is the busies ...

Bullsbrook, Western Australia Bullsbrook (formerly Bullsbrook East) is a northern suburb of Perth, Western Australia in the outer metropolitan area. It is located in the City of Swan. The original Bullsbrook townsite is located slightly west of the current town, on the 17&nbs ...

, serving in an instruction role at No. 2 Flying Training School RAAF. Turnbull transitioned to fast jets in 1991, training on the Macchi MB-326H and afterwards the

McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is an all-weather supersonic, twinjet, twin-engine, carrier-based aircraft, carrier-capable, Multirole combat aircraft, multirole combat aircraft, designed as both a Fighter aircraft, fighter and attack airc ...

. He was then posted to No. 75 Squadron RAAF, flying F/A-18 Hornets at

RAAF Base Tindal RAAF Base Tindal also known as Tindal Air Base is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) military air base and civil aviation airfield located east southeast of the town of Katherine, Northern Territory in Australia. The base is currently home ...

in the

Northern Territory The Northern Territory (abbreviated as NT; known formally as the Northern Territory of Australia and informally as the Territory) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian internal territory in the central and central-northern regi ...

. After three and a half years with the squadron, he was assigned to a planning role at

Headquarters Air Command Air Command is the only Command currently active in the Royal Air Force. It was formed by the merger of Royal Air Force Strike and Personnel and Training commands on 1 April 2007, and has its headquarters at RAF High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire ...

in 1996, became executive officer of No. 77 Squadron RAAF at

RAAF Base Williamtown RAAF Base Williamtown is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) military air base located north of Newcastle ( by road) in the local government area of Port Stephens, in New South Wales, Australia. The base serves as the headquarters to both ...

in 1998, and graduated from the

Royal Australian Navy The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the navy, naval branch of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The professional head of the RAN is Chief of Navy (Australia), Chief of Navy (CN) Vice admiral (Australia), Vice Admiral Mark Hammond (admiral), Ma ...

Command and Staff College in 1999. The following year he was appointed to a capability management and development role at Headquarters Tactical Fighter Group, before assuming command of No. 77 Squadron from January 2002 to December 2004. In 2005, he became Director Airworthiness Coordination and Policy Agency at

Australian Defence Force The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is the Armed forces, military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia and its national interests. It consists of three branches: the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Army and the Royal Aus ...

Headquarters. In March 2007, Turnbull deployed to

Baghdad Baghdad ( or ; , ) is the capital and List of largest cities of Iraq, largest city of Iraq, located along the Tigris in the central part of the country. With a population exceeding 7 million, it ranks among the List of largest cities in the A ...

for a six-month tour as chief of staff at the Australian National Headquarters. His role served to support Australian operations in

and

as part of

Operation Catalyst Catalysis () is the increase in rate of a chemical reaction due to an added substance known as a catalyst (). Catalysts are not consumed by the reaction and remain unchanged after it. If the reaction is rapid and the catalyst recycles quick ...

and

Operation Slipper The Australian contribution to the War in Afghanistan (2001-present), war in Afghanistan has been known as Operation Slipper (2001–2014) and Operation Highroad (2015–2021). Australian Defence Force (ADF) operations and the size of the force ...

, respectively. Turnbull was awarded a

Commendation for Distinguished Service Commendation ceremony was a formal ceremony that evolved during the early medieval period to create a bond between a lord and his fighting man. Commendation may also refer to: * the placing of an ecclesiastical benefice ''in commendam'' * ''Ulmus ...

for his "distinguished performance of duties" as chief of staff and, following his return to Australia, he was appointed to command

at RAAF Base Williamtown on 1 November 2007. He was next posted to

Canberra Canberra ( ; ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the Federation of Australia, federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's list of cities in Australia, largest in ...

as Director Military Strategic Commitments in January 2011. Turnbull redeployed to the Middle East twelve months later, where he was appointed to command the 609th Combined Air Operations Centre in the

United States Central Command The United States Central Command (USCENTCOM or CENTCOM) is one of the eleven unified combatant commands of the United States Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Defense. It was established in 1983, taking over the previous responsibilit ...

. He was awarded the United States

Bronze Star Medal The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious a ...

for his services in the role. Turnbull returned to Australia in May 2012, and was simultaneously appointed Director General Air Command Operations at Headquarters Air Command and Director General Air at Headquarters Joint Operations Command in Canberra. He was promoted

air vice marshal Air vice-marshal (Air Vce Mshl or AVM) is an air officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many Commonwealth of Nations, countries which have historical British infl ...

and succeeded Air Vice Marshal

Mel Hupfeld Air Marshal Melvin Ernest Glanville Hupfeld, (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 Gr ...

, responsible for the operational capability of the RAAF, on 12 September 2014. Turnbull was appointed a

Member of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an Australian honours and awards system, Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarch ...

in the 2016 Australia Day Honours. The citation for the award praised Turnbull's "extraordinary airmanship and exceptional managerial skill", and was made in recognition of his "exceptional service to the Australian Defence Force in air combat capability development and support to military operations". He relinquished Air Command to Air Vice Marshal Steve Roberton, and was made Deputy Chief of Air Force (DCAF) on 1 May 2017. After two years in the role, Turnbull was succeeded as DCAF by Air Vice Marshal

Stephen Meredith Air Vice Marshal Stephen Leslie Meredith, is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He joined the RAAF as a navigator in 1986. He has commanded No. 6 Squadron RAAF (2006–08), No. 42 Wing RAAF (2008–10), the A ...

in July 2019 and retired from the RAAF.

Personal life

Turnbull is married to Jackie and has five children; four sons and one daughter. He has logged over 3,600 hours flying rotary wing and jet aircraft.

References

, - {{DEFAULTSORT:Turnbull, Gavin Australian aviators Australian military personnel of the Iraq War Australian military personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Living people Members of the Order of Australia Recipients of the Commendation for Distinguished Service Royal Australian Air Force air marshals Year of birth missing (living people)