Mel Hupfeld


Melvin Ernest Glanville Hupfeld, is a senior officer in 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, before being appointed as Head Force Design in the Vice Chief of the Defence Force Group. 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 career

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.
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.
Hupfeld has commanded several RAAF units during his career, including No. 75 Squadron RAAF, No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit RAAF, No. 81 Wing RAAF, and Air Combat Group RAAF. Hupfeld was promoted to air vice marshal and appointed as Air Commander Australia on 3 February 2012. He moved to the Capability Development Group, as Head Capability Systems, in September 2014, 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.

Personal life

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