Chief Capability Development Group

Chief Capability Development Group (CCDG) of
Australian Department of Defence
Term length(nominally) Three years (renewable)
Inaugural holderLTGEN David Hurley
Websitedefence.gov.au/Leaders/

The Chief of Capability Development Group (CCDG) was head of the Capability Development Group (CDG) in the Australian Department of Defence, part of the Australian Defence Organisation. This position was created in December 2003 and disbanded through the amalgamation of the Capability Development Group and the Defence Materiel Organisation into the Defence Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group from 2015.

The appointed officer was responsible to the diarchy of the Chief of the Defence Force and the Secretary of Defence.[1]

Capability Development Group

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The role of the Capability Development Group (CDG) was to develop and gain Australian Government approval for future defence capabilities. The CDG has a close relationship with the Defence Materiel Organisation) and oversaw the implementation of Defence Procurement Review recommendations.

As sponsor, CDG was responsible for developing capability proposals consistent with strategic priorities, funding guidance, legislation and policy, for consideration and approval by Government. In particular, the work of the Group focused on:

  • Defence's Major Capability Expenditure (MCE) investment program;[a] and
  • Capability Definition, comprising the Needs Phase and the Requirements Phase of the Capability Development process.

CCDG, along with the Vice Chief of the Defence Force (VCDF), the Chief Finance Officer (CFO) and the Chief Defence Scientist (CDS), (all are 3 star level positions), comprised the Owner Support Executives.

Department heads

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  • Head Capability System: Vacant
  • First assistant secretary capability investment & resources: Michael Gibson
  • Assistant secretary capability & plans: Ben Coleman
  • Executive director group support: Warren Nelson
  • Director-General Australian defence test & evaluation office: CAPT John Renwick, RAN

Chief Capability Development Group

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LTGEN David Hurley

The following officers have been appointed as Chief of the Capability Development Group:

Rank Name Post-
nominals
Service
Term
began
Term
ended
Time in
Appointment
Notes
Lieutenant General David Hurley AO, DSC Army December 2003 September 2007 3 years, 274 days
Vice Admiral Matt Tripovich AO, CSC, RAN RAN September 2007 October 2010 3 years, 30 days
Air Marshal John Harvey AM RAAF October 2010 November 2011 1 year, 31 days
Vice Admiral Peter Jones AO, DSC, RAN RAN November 2011 31 October 2014 2 years, 364 days
Lieutenant General John Caligari AO, DSC Army 31 October 2014 20 August 2015 293 days
Air Vice Marshal Mel Hupfeld AO, DSC RAAF 20 August 2015 2016 1 years, 2,993 days [1]

Timeline

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Mel HupfeldJohn CaligariPeter Jones (admiral)John Harvey (RAAF officer)Matt TripovichDavid Hurley

References and notes

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Notes

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  1. ^ "Major" means equipment projects of:
    • $20 million or more, or
    • less than $20 million, but with individual items of $1 million or more, or
    • less than $20 million with strategic significance

References

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  1. ^ a b "Defence Senior Leaders". Department of Defence. Australian Government. 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.