Chief of Joint Capabilities

The Chief of Joint Capabilities (CJC) is the head of the Joint Capabilities Group (JCG) in the Australian Department of Defence. The Joint Capabilities Group was raised on 1 July 2017 with the position created as a result, with the inaugural CJC being Air Marshal Warren McDonald. The current chief is Lieutenant General Susan Coyle, who was appointed to the position in July 2024.^[1]

Chief of Joint Capabilities
Incumbent Lieutenant General Susan Coyle since July 2024
Member of	Australian Defence Force
Reports to	Chief of the Defence Force
Inaugural holder	Air Marshal Warren McDonald
Formation	1 July 2017
Website	www.defence.gov.au/JCG/

Structure

The Chief of Joint Capabilities is responsible for coordinating the various capabilities within the Australian Defence Force. The following four commands report to the Chief.

The Australian Civil-Military Centre (ACMC) is responsible for researching and advising the improvement of civil-military-police collaboration in civil-military co-operation and civil-military operations in the stabilization of fragile states, peacekeeping, humanitarian aid, and emergency management. ACMC also engages with Australian Government departments and agencies including the Australian Federal Police and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the United Nations, and non-government organisations.^[2][3][4]

Australian Defence College

The Australian Defence College (ADC) is responsible for the delivery of professional military education, command and staff education, and joint warfare training for the ADF. The ADC is the umbrella organisation for the Australian War College, Australian Civil-Military Centre, Australian War College, Australian Defence Force Academy. In 2019 the Australian War College formed from the merging of the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies and the Australian Command and Staff College. The Commander of the Australian Defence College is Major General Mick Ryan.

The Australian Defence College is made up of the following centres:^[5]

• Australian Defence Force Academy
• Australian Defence Force Training Centre
  • Australian Defence Force Peace Operations Training Centre
  • Australian Defence Force Warfare Training Centre
  • Defence Force School of Languages
  • Defence International Training Centre
• Australian Defence Force Transition and Civil Recognition Project
• Australian War College
• Centre for Defence Research
• Defence Learning Technologies Environment
• Wargaming and Simulation Centre

Joint Health Command

The Joint Health Command (JHC) is led by the Surgeon General of the Australian Defence Force, Rear Admiral Sarah Sharkey, and is responsible for the delivery of military medicine and joint healthcare services to Australian Defence Force personnel, including military psychiatry and rehabilitation services. The JHC is also responsible for the development of the health preparedness of ADF personnel for operations and the coordination of health units for deployment in support of operations.^[2][3][6] JHC is responsible for these sections:

• Health Business and Plans
• Operational Health
• Garrison Health Operations
• Health Policy, Programs and Assurance

Joint Logistics Command

The Joint Logistics Command (JLC) is responsible for the planning, coordination and delivery of military logistics, the evaluation of joint logistics capabilities and requirements, explosive ordnance, fuel services, joint movements, logistics information systems, and Defence's supply chain (warehousing, distribution, materiel maintenance and retail store services). The current Commander of the Joint Logistics Command is MAJGEN Jason Walk. The Joint Logistics Command is made up of the:

• Explosive Ordnance Branch
• Fuel Services Branch
• Logistics Assurance Branch
• Logistics Systems Branch
• Strategic Logistics Branch
• Supply Chain Branch
• 1 Joint Movements Group

Information Warfare Division

The Information Warfare Division is responsible for information warfare, cyber security, and command, control, coordination and communications (C4), and Space capabilities for the Australian Defence Force. The Head for Information Warfare Division is Major General Susan Coyle. The Information Warfare Division is made up of the:

• Joint Intelligence and Cyber Branch
• C2 and Battle Management Capability Branch
• Capability Support Directorate
• Joint Cyber Unit
• Space and Communications Branch

Joint Military Police Unit

The Joint Military Police Unit is the unified military police agency of the Australian Defence Force led by the Provost Marshal responsible for general policing, law enforcement, and the Australian Defence Force Investigative Service.^[7][8]

Reserve and Youth Division

The Reserve and Youth Division (RYD) is responsible for the capacity building of the Australian Defence Force reserve capabilities of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve, Australian Army Reserve and Royal Australian Air Force Reserve and the governance of the Australian Defence Force Cadets Scheme.

Women, Peace and Security

The Chief of Joint Capabilities also acts as the Joint Capability Manager for Women, Peace and Security for the development and implementation of the Australian National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security. The Gender Advisor to the Chief of the Defence Force supports this role.

Chiefs of Joint Capabilities

The following officers have been appointed as Chief of Joint Capabilities:

Rank	Name	Post-nominals	Service	Term began	Term ended
Air Marshal	Warren McDonald	AO, CSC	RAAF	1 July 2017	24 November 2020
Vice Admiral	Jonathan Mead	AO	RAN	24 November 2020[9]	September 2021
Lieutenant General	John Frewen	AO, DSC	Army	September 2021[Note 1]	4 July 2024
Lieutenant General	Susan Coyle	AM, CSC, DSM	Army	4 July 2024	Incumbent

Notes

1. Frewen did not formally assume the post of Chief of Joint Capabilities until August 2022, since he was seconded as Coordinator General of the National COVID Vaccine Taskforce from June 2021 to July 2022.^[10] Rear Admiral Ian Murray was Acting Chief of Joint Capabilities during this period.^[11]