Reboot for top brass

The Defence Force’s top brass will get a massive shake-up by the end of the year.

New Defence Force chief Air Marshal Kevin Short took over the top job in May and is rebooting the top tier of senior military officers in his orbit.

By December, Short will have a new 13-strong team including a new vice-chief, three new service chiefs, a new joint forces commander and a range of new deputies. Short revealed the refresh at a briefing with the foreign affairs, defence and trade select committee yesterday.

He said with its billion dollar plus budget the military needed to be able to ‘‘plan better, retain better’’ and manage personnel better. He would also look at officers ranked lieutenant colonel and above as well as civilian staff to give himself ‘‘some headroom to put more young men and women at the front end and deliver those military outputs we require’’.

Short highlighted his key priorities – major ‘‘disruptions’’ – including the pressing issues of extremist ideologies, new technology and climate change.

He also addressed issues with gender diversity, the drive to be more transparent with Government and the media as well as conduct within the ranks.

Programmes launched in 2016 such as More Military Women and Optimum Respect had been rolled out to get more women in the forces and foster a safer environment for all personnel.

Short is a career military man who joined the air force in 1976 and has held a number of high ranking positions.