Errol John McCormack
Born (1941-08-30) 30 August 1941 (age 82)
Bundaberg, Queensland
AllegianceAustralia
Service/branchRoyal Australian Air Force
Years of service1962–2001
RankAir Marshal
Commands heldChief of Air Force (1998–01)
Deputy Chief of Air Force (1997–98)
Integrated Air Defence System (1995–97)
No. 82 Wing (1986–88)
No. 1 Squadron (1977–79)
Battles/warsIndonesia–Malaysia confrontation
Vietnam War
AwardsOfficer of the Order of Australia

Air Marshal Errol John McCormack AO (born 30 August 1941) is a retired senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), who served as Chief of Air Force from May 1998 to June 2001.

Early life

McCormack was born in Bundaberg, Queensland, on 30 August 1941 to Horace McCormack and his wife Ida (née Wooldridge). He was educated at Bundaberg State High School.[1]

Service career

McCormack was commissioned in 1963 and served in Malaysia and Singapore during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation,[2] and subsequently took part in the Vietnam War.[3] He served as commanding officer of No. 1 Squadron RAAF in the 1980s.[2] He was made commanding officer of No. 82 Wing RAAF in 1987, Director General Force Development Air at Headquarters, Australian Defence Force in Canberra in 1989 and Air Attaché in Washington D. C. in 1993.[4] In 1995 he became Commander for the Integrated Air Defence System at Butterworth in Malaysia.[4]

He was appointed Deputy Chief of Air Force in 1997 and Chief of Air Force in May 1998 before he retired in 2001.[5] In retirement he became Chairman of Chemring Australia Pty Ltd.[4]

He became an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1998.[6]

Honours and awards

Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) 1998[7]
Member of the Order of Australia (AM) 1993[8]
General Service Medal
Vietnam Medal
Australian Service Medal 1945-1975
Centenary Medal 2001[9]
Defence Force Service Medal with 4 clasps for 35–39 years of service
National Medal for 15 years of service[10]
Australian Defence Medal 2006
Vietnam Campaign Medal (South Vietnam)
Pingat Jasa Malaysia (Malaysia) 2004

References

  1. ^ "Air Marshal Errol John McCormack". Who's Who in Australia Online. ConnectWeb. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  2. ^ a b Australian Department of Defense – Senior Military Appointments
  3. ^ Vietnam War Nominal Roll – McCormack, Errol John
  4. ^ a b c Australian Industry & Defence Network Archived 3 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Air Force News – Air Marshal Errol J. McCormack – RAAF Service 1962–2001
  6. ^ Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), 8 June 1998, It's an honour
  7. ^ It's an Honour – Officer of the Order of Australia – 8 June 1998
  8. ^ It's an Honour – Member of the Order of Australia – 26 January 1993
  9. ^ It's an Honour – Centenary Medal – 1 January 2001
  10. ^ It's an Honour – National Medal – 15 November 1977
Military offices Preceded byAir Marshal Les Fisher Chief of Air Force 1998–2001 Succeeded byAir Marshal Angus Houston Preceded byAir Vice Marshal Robert Richardson Deputy Chief of Air Force 1997–1998 Succeeded byAir Vice Marshal Brent Espeland


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