Robert Chipman

Air Marshal Robert Timothy Chipman, (born 1971) is a senior officer in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He joined the RAAF as an aeronautical engineer in 1989 and gained his pilot's wings in 1994. He has commanded No. 75 Squadron RAAF (2006–09), the Air and Space Operations Centre (2010–12), No. 81 Wing RAAF (2013–14) and Air Task Unit 630.1, and deployed to the Middle East on Operations Slipper and Okra. He served as the Australian Military Representative to NATO and the European Union from 2019 to 2021, Head Military Strategic Commitments from 2021 to 2022 and Chief of Air Force from 2022 to 2024. Chipman assumed his current appointment as the Vice Chief of the Defence Force on 9 July 2024.

RAAF career

Chipman joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as an officer cadet in 1989. He graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering with Honours in 1992 and gained his pilot's wings in 1994. His early career included postings to Nos. 25 and 76 Squadrons, flying the Macchi MB-326H, and later Nos. 77 and 75 Squadrons after converting to the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet. On qualifying as a fighter combat instructor in 1999, he was posted to No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit as an instructor on the F/A-18 Hornet and then as a fighter combat instructor and flight commander in No. 75 Squadron.

Chipman was appointed executive officer of No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit in 2002, Deputy Director Firepower in the Capability Development Group in 2004, and commanding officer of No. 75 Squadron in 2006. He completed the Defence and Strategic Studies Course later that year, graduating with a Master of Business Administration. Chipman returned to Australia in 2021 as Head Military Strategic Commitments, with responsibility for the strategic management and situational awareness of ADF commitments. Chipman succeeded Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld in the role on 1 July. Chipman was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2024 Australia Day Honours for "distinguished service in responsible positions as Australia’s Military Representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; and as Head of Military Strategic Commitments Branch". In April, Marles announced that Chipman would be appointed Vice Chief of the Defence Force from July 2024. Chipman was awarded Malaysia's Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Military Service in May, Indonesia's Air Force Meritorious Service Star, First Class in June and, on 3 July, was succeeded by Air Marshal Stephen Chappell as Chief of Air Force.

In October 2024, Chipman was presented with the Singaporean Meritorious Service Medal (Military) by Singapore's Minister for Defence, Ng Eng Hen.

Personal life Chipman is married to Alyce and has four children. He enjoys reading, running, and playing AFL.