25 May 2023
Deputy Chief of Army Major General Natasha Fox has been appointed the inaugural Chief of Personnel in the Australian Defence Force.
The Defence Strategic Review, released last month, recommended ADF personnel management be centralised into a single integrated system incorporating the five domains, headed by a Chief of Personnel reporting directly to the Chief of the Defence Force.
As Chief of Personnel, Major General Fox’s aim will be to increase the effectiveness, efficiency and cohesiveness of personnel management to achieve a more integrated ADF.
The DSR also recommended options be developed to change Defence’s recruitment framework.
This aims to improve the eligibility pool of potential applications and to align service recruitment requirements to military employment, especially in key technical and specialist trades.
Major General Fox will be promoted to lieutenant general and commence her new role on June 5.
Defence Minister Richard Marles said Major General Fox brought more than 35 years of experience in leadership, and personnel and workforce management to her new role.
“We want more Australians to experience a rich and rewarding career with Defence. A Defence career is one that provides fulfilling and well-paid work, job security and world-class training and education opportunities,” Mr Marles said.
“Major General Fox will play a critical role in ensuring we have an integrated end-to-end people system for all Australians who join the ADF.”
Minister for Defence Personnel Matt Keogh said he looked forward to working with Major General Fox and Deputy Secretary Defence People Justine Greig to transform the Defence people system to continue to support and enable the Defence workforce and future capability.
“As a government we are committed to improving the welfare of serving and ex-serving members of our ADF, after all our people are our most important capability,” Mr Keogh said.
