Angus Houston Air Chief Marshal Allan Grant " Angus " Houston , ( born 9 June 1947 ) is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Air Force and was the Chief of the Defence Force ( CDF ) from 4 July 2005 until his retirement on 3 July 2011 . At the time of his appointment as CDF he was Chief of Air Force ( CAF ) , a position he had held since 20 June 2001 . Early life . Houston was born on 9 June 1947 in Ayrshire , Scotland and educated at Strathallan School in Forgandenny , Perthshire . He emigrated to Australia in 1968 to work as a jackaroo on a cattle station in north - west Western Australia . It was there that his workmates dubbed him " Angus " , due to his strong Scottish accent . Service career . Early career . Houston joined the RAAF as a cadet pilot in 1970 and spent the early part of his career flying UH - 1 Iroquois helicopter s in various parts of Australia , Papua New Guinea and Indonesia . After graduation from Flying Instructors Course in 1975 , Houston completed several instructional tours on Macchi MB - 326H , British Aircraft Corporation Strikemaster and Iroquois aircraft . A posting to the Republic of Singapore Air Force ( RSAF ) from 1976 – 1978 was followed by two years at No . 9 Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley . In late 1979 , Houston was posted to Hill Air Force Base , Utah U . S . A . for exchange flying duties with a United States Air Force helicopter unit . In 1980 he was awarded the Air Force Cross ( AFC ) for an open sea rescue in gale force winds off the coast of New South Wales in 1979 . After a further posting to No . 9 Squadron as the Executive Officer , and staff training at RAAF Staff College , Houston was posted to the Department of Air ( Development Division ) where he was involved in the Black Hawk helicopter Project . In 1987 , Houston assumed command of No . 9 Squadron to introduce the Black Hawk helicopter , to relocate the unit from Amberley to Townsville , Queensland , and to transfer the capability to the Australian Army . In 1989 he served one year as a Squadron Commander with the 5th Aviation Regiment . Houston was admitted as a Member of the military division of the Order of Australia ( AM ) in 1990 for his work in the transfer of responsibility for Blackhawk operations . Following graduation from Joint Services Staff College , Houston was posted to the Joint Operations staff at Headquarters Australian Defence Force and was involved in strategic planning during the Persian Gulf War of 1990 – 1991 . On promotion to Group Captain in July 1992 , he assumed the post of Director Air Force Policy and negotiated the establishment of the RSAF Flying School at RAAF Base Pearce . After completing a C - 130H Hercules conversion in 1993 , Houston commanded No . 86 Wing from 1994 – 1995 . Houston attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in London in 1996 . He was Chief of Staff , Headquarters Australian Theatre ( HQAST ) in 1997 – 1999 , Commander Integrated Air Defence System from 1999 – 2000 and Head Strategic Command from 17 August 2000 . Chief of Air Force . Houston was appointed as Chief of Air Force ( CAF ) on 20 June 2001 and , in the 2003 Australia Day Honours , advanced to Officer of the military division of the Order of Australia ( AO ) . As acting Chief of the Defence Force in 2001 , Houston played a central role in the Children Overboard Affair . At a Senate inquiry in February 2002 , Houston challenged the then government ' s claim made during the 2001 election campaign , that seafaring asylum seekers had thrown children overboard in a presumed ploy to secure rescue and passage to Australia . Chief of the Defence Force . On 4 July 2005 , Houston was promoted to Air Chief Marshal and appointed Chief of the Defence Force ( CDF ) . In the Australia Day Honours of 26 January 2008 , he was advanced to a Companion of the Order of Australia . In March 2008 , Houston ' s appointment was extended to 3 July 2011 . Post - service appointment . After his retirement from the CDF position , on 6 July 2011 the Australian Government appointed Houston as Chair of the Anzac Centenary Advisory Board , with the remit to " provide strategic advice and recommendations on the planning and implementation of Anzac Centenary events " . On 6 December 2011 , it was announced that the Australian Government had appointed Houston as the next chairman of Airservices Australia on the grounds of his aviation , governance and leadership experience . In June 2012 , Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced that Houston would chair an expert group that would examine asylum seeker policy and prepare a report recommending a solution for the Government ' s consideration . Personal life . Houston and his wife Liz , who is a teacher , have three sons . On 26 July 2010 , Houston announced he would be taking medical leave to deal with prostate issues . Honours and awards .