Mel Hupfeld

Air Marshal Melvin Ernest Glanville Hupfeld (born 7 March 1962) is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Air Force. He served as Air Commander Australia from 2012 to 2014 and was the acting and final Chief Capability Development Group (2015–16), before being appointed as Head Force Design in the Vice Chief of the Defence Force Group (2016–18). He was promoted air marshal and made Chief of Joint Operations in May 2018, and succeeded Air Marshal Leo Davies as Chief of Air Force in July 2019.

Early life and education Hupfeld was born in Sydney, New South Wales, on 7 March 1962, and joined the Royal Australian Air Force as an Officer Cadet in 1980. He finished his training in 1983, won the 'Flying Prize' and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. He completed a Master of Arts degree in Defence Studies at King's College London in 1997.

RAAF career During Hupfeld's career he has flown the Dassault Mirage III and McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet flying mainly with No. 3 Squadron RAAF. Hupfeld was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross on 27 November 2003 for his command of No. 75 Squadron RAAF during Operation Falconer, and the squadron was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation. before being appointed the acting and final Chief Capability Development Group in 2015, and then Head Force Design in the Vice Chief of the Defence Force Group from 2016.

Hupfeld was promoted air marshal and appointed Chief of Joint Operations on 24 May 2018. He succeeded Air Marshal Leo Davies as Chief of Air Force on 3 July 2019.

Hupfeld was appointed an Officer of the National Order of Merit by the French government on 15 February 2021. The award recognised his contribution to bilateral Australian–French military cooperation, most notably "in the fight against Daesch in the Middle-East and in ... combined defence and security operations in the South Pacific" as Chief of Joint Operations. On 14 September 2021 he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by Singapore's Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen. Hupfeld was also awarded the Air Force Meritorious Service Star, First Class by Indonesia on 23 February 2022.

In 2026, Hupfeld was selected to be the pipe major of the Australian Defence Force pipe band, performing in the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Personal life Hupfeld is married to Louise and his interests include cycling, running, fishing, light aircraft, hang-gliding and sailing.