20 December 2024
Extending from the heavens to the skies, Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg has been appointed a reservist Group Captain in the RAAF, in a move that will greatly enhance the capability of the Defence workforce of the future.
Currently a Director with the Australian Space Agency, and until recently an honourary group captain in Air Force, Group Captain Bennell-Pegg was the first person to train as an astronaut under the Australian flag in 2024 and in turn became Australia’s first female astronaut.
Her extensive experience as a space engineer in Europe, including postgraduate degrees, and stints with Airbus DS in the UK and Germany, and the European Space Agency in the Netherlands, saw her move back to Australia to provide much-needed expertise in the growing local space sector.
At a ceremony held in Canberra on December 5, Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Stephen Chappell officially appointed Group Captain Bennell-Pegg a Specialist Capability Officer in the Air Force Reserve.
'Whether wearing my blue flight suit or my green flying suit, I’m proud to serve my country, which has given me so much opportunity.'
As a specialist capability officer, Group Captain Bennell-Pegg will contribute her astronaut skills as a reservist across the enterprise, sharing her knowledge and expertise with sailors, soldiers and aviators about human performance optimisation, space capabilities and technologies, and how to build the necessary resilience for a resourceful, ready and inclusive workforce.
“I am thrilled to have Katherine join our ranks as an Air Force Reservist. I know she will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to all our personnel, particularly as a mentor to aviators and young Australians interested in STEM careers,” Air Marshal Chappell said.
“As a parent of two and qualified astronaut, she can also provide valuable insights into the different approaches aviators can take to balancing a challenging career and having a good work-life balance with a young family.
“I am hopeful that the skills Katherine has from her full-time role at the Australian Space Agency, will in turn assist her in her reservist capacity to help grow and build partnerships that will enhance Air Force and Joint Capabilities Group, as well as broader Defence.”
'It’s an exciting time to be a newly graduated astronaut, and to work in space in Australia whether in the civil or Defence spheres, as the world is on the cusp of the next great space exploration and industrialisation endeavour – and we are part of it.'
Group Captain Bennell-Pegg shared Air Marshal Chappell’s enthusiasm for her additional role as the ADF builds on its emerging strength and capability in the space sector.
“It is an absolute honour to have been appointed a Group Captain in the Air Force Reserve. Whether wearing my blue flight suit or my green flying suit, I’m proud to serve my country, which has given me so much opportunity,” Group Captain Bennell-Pegg said.
“It’s an exciting time to be a newly graduated astronaut, and to work in space in Australia whether in the civil or Defence spheres, as the world is on the cusp of the next great space exploration and industrialisation endeavour – and we are part of it.
“Australia is punching above its weight on the world-stage and when I was overseas, international players were thrilled to see our progression and excited for what we can bring to the table in a breadth of topics – from remote asset management and field robotics, to launch and returns, to SDA and comms and beyond.
“I hope, through this new role, to contribute what I’ve learned from my astronaut and space engineering career, to maintain and build my operational and expeditionary skills, and importantly, help inspire others, across Air Force and Defence more broadly, about the importance of space and STEM to future capability in the skies and beyond.”
Air Marshal Chappell added that Group Captain Bennell-Pegg’s appointment to the Air Force Reserves would also be of immense benefit to the culture of continuous learning and development in Air Force and across the domains.
“Katherine’s insights on how a team brings their unique skills towards a common goal by working positively with joint teams and international partners will be highly valued,” Air Marshal Chappell said.
“Her unique training in working alongside international colleagues from diverse cultural backgrounds has helped Katherine develop an open mindset to work through problems together with others – using the balance of leadership and participant to achieve success on combined projects in high-risk environments.
“We are very fortunate to have Katherine join our Air Force family.”
