26 June 2024
Representing Air Force as a drone racer was another exciting chapter of a diverse and rewarding career spanning more than 35 years in uniform for Flight Sergeant Justin Galbraith.
After hearing about the Air Force Drone Racing Team, Flight Sergeant Galbraith jumped at the chance to turn his hobby into a sport and improve his racing skills while spending time with his colleagues in Air Force and other services.
One aspect that Flight Sergeant Galbraith hadn’t anticipated when joining the team was the rewarding feeling he would get when speaking about drones, avionics and career pathways with young people at the many air shows and STEM events around the nation.
“I love to be able to speak to young people about my journey and to let them know that it is OK to not really know what you want to do, but joining Defence can present so many opportunities for education, travel and personal growth,” Flight Sergeant Galbraith said.
Growing up in Adelaide, Flight Sergeant Galbraith turned 18 having no definitive plan for a career after secondary school.
With an interest in electronics, he decided to join the Air Force as an aviation technician and started his career working on the P-3 Orion aircraft.
“I have had such incredible opportunities in the Air Force and I still love it, 35 years on," he said.
"My career has been diverse, interesting and incredibly fulfilling. I really want to encourage young people to consider a career in Defence as service really does have its own rewards.”
Flight Sergeant Galbraith is now an Air Force reservist and works in Defence Public Service as an aircraft safety investigator for the Defence Flight Safety Bureau in Canberra.
In addition to his reserve role with the Air Force Drone Racing Team, he is also part of Historic Unrecovered War Casualties – Air Force and has been involved in the commemoration ceremonies for the airmen of several World War 2 aircraft found in the Pacific.
“It’s a great job where I can play a part in honouring the servicemen and women who have served before me; and then as a drone racer, it is such a privilege to speak to young people about considering a career in Defence,” Flight Sergeant Galbraith said.
Drone racing is an approved ADF sport, and any Air Force personnel can join regardless of skill level.
