PROGRAM

Fireside talk with Deputy Secretary CASG, Chris Deeble; and Chief GWEO, Air Marshal Leon Phillips OAM

Date:

Thursday 12 September

Time:

1230 – 1430

Registration:

Land Forces 2024 Registration is now closed.

If you are already registered, you can Amend Your Registration to include this session.

This event is open to all Land Forces trade visitors, exhibitors and conference delegates.

NOTE: While attendance to this session is free for all participants, entry is not guaranteed. Seating will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, and once the venue reaches its maximum capacity, access will be closed.

Location:

Meeting Rooms 210 & 211 combined, Convention Level 2, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

SPEAKERS

Chris Deeble AO, CSC

Deputy Secretary of Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG) in the Department of Defence

Chris has extensive experience spanning the defence, industry and commercial sectors and working with Government. He also served for 37 years in the Australian Defence Force, most notably as an Air Vice-Marshal.

His most recent appointment was Chief Executive at Northrop Grumman Australia. Prior to that he worked for Airservices Australia as the program executive for OneSKY, responsible for delivering the Civil Military Air Traffic Management System for Australia.

Chris returns to CASG after previously holding the role of Senior Program Manager where he managed more than $25 billion of complex acquisition and sustainment programs including the Joint Strike Fighter, Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control, Multi Role Tanker Transport and Collins Class Submarine.

Chris has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Sydney. He was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) in 2007, and recognized in 2016 as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).

Chris is married to Donna and they have five adult children. They enjoy travel, movies and spending time with family.

Air Marshal Leon Phillips OAM

Chief of Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (CGWEO)

As an engineer and program manager, Air Marshal Leon Phillips has over 36 years of extensive experience across Defence, with a proven reputation for establishing highly effective teams to deliver complex aerospace projects and manage their in-service support. In May 2023, on promotion to Air Marshal, he was appointed the inaugural Chief to head the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Group.

His junior appointments spanned a range of materiel support, engineering and staff roles supporting the F-111, Classic Hornet and Headquarters Northern Command. In 2008, Air Marshal Phillips was posted to the Airborne Early Warning and Control Program as Engineering Manager in Seattle USA, culminating in him accepting the first two E-7 Wedgetail aircraft.

Promoted to Group Captain in 2012, he was appointed as the Project Director responsible for the $8 billion portfolio of Maritime Surveillance projects, where he guided the Air Force’s P-8A acquisition through Government approval and established the initial procurements. Air Marshal Leon Phillips was then appointed as Officer Commanding, Surveillance and Control Systems Program Office, responsible for the acquisition and sustainment of assigned airspace surveillance, control, and communications systems for the Australian Defence Force.

In 2017 he was promoted to Air Commodore and given responsibility for the acquisition and sustainment of Air Force’s maritime patrol, airborne surveillance and aircrew training capabilities as well as fleetwide-enabling aerospace materiel.

In 2019, Air Marshal Leon Phillips joined the Chief Information Officer Group and was responsible for connecting Defence Groups and Services with ICT solutions, and subsequently involved in integrating major weapon systems into the strategic ICT network.

In 2022, he was promoted to Air Vice-Marshal and appointed as the Head of Aerospace Systems Division within Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group, responsible for the materiel acquisition and sustainment for all of Air Force’s airborne air combat, surveillance and air mobility capabilities.

Air Marshal Leon Phillips has a degree in Electronic Engineering, Masters in Project Management and an Executive Masters in Business. He is also a Master Project Director with the Australian Institute of Project Management and a Fellow of Engineers Australia. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2018 for his work in complex acquisition projects and for mentoring staff.

Air Marshal Leon Phillips is married to his best friend and mentor Air Commodore (retired) Angie Castner, and has four adult children. His interests include a lifelong obsession with field hockey, having played in Australia’s National Hockey League and competing for Australia at the Masters level. In his spare time he also enjoys cycling and cooking.

Hosted by Department of Defence: Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG)

For any conference enquires, please contact the Conferences Team at conferences@amda.com.au