Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Industry Update

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.

Dan has held a range of senior and representational roles within Defence, assisting Australian businesses through the global COVID-19 pandemic and in establishing the early foundations of Australia’s national naval shipbuilding enterprise.

Dan previously held diplomatic accreditation to represent Australia’s acquisition and sustainment interests with the United States and Canada from the Australian Embassy in Washington DC from 2011-16. This coincided with a period of unprecedented growth in Foreign Military Sales and armaments cooperation programs with the United States, as part of the recapitalisation of the Royal Australian Air Force and rapid acquisitions to support operational deployments. During his tenure, Dan established the successful G’Day USA: US- Australian Dialogue on Defence Industries and facilitated significant new export opportunities for Australian industry.

Dan has extensive experience providing strategic advice to Government, including as Senior Capability & Industry Advisor to the Minister for Defence during the development and release of the 2009 Defence White Paper and as Chief of Staff to the Minister for Defence Materiel in 2010-11.

Dan served for more than a decade as an officer in the Royal Australian Navy, qualifying as a mine warfare specialist in 2003. Dan is a graduate of the Australian Defence Force Academy and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Politics) and Master of Management (Governance) from the University of New South Wales.

Prior to taking up a KPMG Partnership in 2015, Col held the role of General Manager Land and Maritime (GMLM) (SES3) in the then Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO), responsible for shipbuilding, the acquisition and sustainment of maritime systems, vehicles and weapons, and the procurement of explosive ordnance, fuel, uniforms and soldier systems.

Col’s Air Force career culminated with nearly 5 years as Head Aerospace Systems (AVM) at a time of unprecedented recapitalisation of Air Force for which he was recognised with an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2014.  Most of his Air Force career centred on his professional passion for airborne surveillance and Electronic Warfare.  He was involved from inception in the development of the E-7 Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft (and earlier attempts) for which he was recognised with a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2001.

Col has a degree in Electronic Engineering (RMIT University) and a Master of Science in Military Electronic Systems Engineering (Cranfield University, UK).  He is an Engineer Executive and Fellow of Engineers Australia in the College of Leadership and Management.

Col was born in Atherton in far north Queensland but spent his school years on the Redcliffe Peninsula north of Brisbane. Col now lives near Canberra with his wife of 38 years, Helen, and has an accomplished adult daughter and son spread across Australia.  He is a Rugby Union tragic (Brumbies) but his upbringing also ensures a passion for Rugby League, the Queensland Maroons and the Dolphins.  His happy place is on any estuary or lake on NSW far south coast on his Hobie kayak with fishing rod in hand.

Affectionately known as ‘Scougs’, Air Commodore Scougall and his wife Mary are proud parents to three adult daughters.

As the SO1 Joint Fires – Army and Director Land Combat Support Program (from 2019), within AHQ, he developed the Artillery Modernisation Plan which led to the most significant reinvestment to date in Defence’s artillery capabilities. As Director, he was responsible for the approval and oversight of 20 major projects across the Joint Fires, Air and Missile defence, and Engineering domains.

In 2023, BRIG Langford was recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours List as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for exceptional service as Commanding Officer Joint Proof and Experimental Unit, and Deputy Director then Director Land Combat Support Program.

Brigadier Hunter has extensive operational experience in command and staff appointments including humanitarian and disaster relief operations in Australia, and peace-keeping and peace support operations in Timor Leste. He has served as an embedded staff officer in US-led multinational headquarters commanding combat and partner force development operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Coan has a bachelor’s degree in commerce, honours degree in accounting and finance, alongside a master’s degree in public administration. He also is a CPA and has been studying a double degree in computer science and mathematics (on hold this year while managing a busy life).

Originally from Western Australia, Coan makes frequent visits to Perth in order to visit family.