Joe Iervasi

Last updated

Joe Iervasi
Joe Iervasi 2019 cropped.jpg
Iervasi in May 2019
Nickname(s)"Vinny"
Born1967 (age 56–57)
Sydney, New South Wales
AllegianceAustralia
Service/branch Royal Australian Air Force
Years of service1985–2023
Rank Air Vice-Marshal
Commands Air Command (2019–22)
Joint Task Force 633 (2019)
Air Warfare Centre (2017–18)
609th Combined Air Operations Centre (2014)
No. 81 Wing RAAF (2011–12)
No. 3 Squadron RAAF (2005–08)
Battles/wars
Awards Member of the Order of Australia
Conspicuous Service Cross

Air Vice-Marshal Vincent Joseph Iervasi, AM , CSC (born 1967) is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He joined the RAAF in 1985 and gained his pilot's wings in 1989. He deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Operation Deny Flight in 1995, Qatar in support of Operation Slipper in 2014, and to Al Minhad Air Base in support of Operations Okra and Highroad in 2019. He commanded No. 3 Squadron RAAF (2005–08), No. 81 Wing RAAF (2011–12), the 609th Combined Air Operations Centre (2014) and the Air Warfare Centre (2017–18). He was Commander Joint Task Force 633 from January to June 2019 and served as Air Commander Australia from 2019 to 2022.

Contents

Early and personal life

Iervasi was born in Sydney, New South Wales. [1] He has a lifelong interest in flying and aviation – as an adolescent, he would build Airfix aircraft models and affix them to his bedroom ceiling. He did not consider a career in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), however, until a high school friend suggested they visit a recruiting office. Iervasi was accepted and joined the RAAF as an officer cadet in 1985. [2]

Iervasi is married to Donna Allen, with whom he has twin daughters. [1]

RAAF career

Following his initial officer training, Iervasi graduated from the University of New South Wales with a Bachelor of Science and was then posted for flying training. He gained his pilot's wings in 1989 and, following conversion to the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet in 1991, he was posted to No. 3 Squadron RAAF at RAAF Base Williamtown. This was followed by an exchange posting to the Royal Air Force's No. 5 (Army Cooperation) Squadron in the United Kingdom. In 1995, as part of the exchange, Iervasi flew the Panavia Tornado F3 in support of Operation Deny Flight, helping to enforce the no-fly zone over Bosnia and Herzegovina. [1] [3] [4]

Following his return to Australia, Iervasi served as a flight commander in No. 77 Squadron RAAF and then in No. 75 Squadron RAAF. He was part of the inaugural Australian Command and Staff College course at Weston Creek in 2001, graduating with a Masters of Management in Defence Studies from the affiliated University of Canberra, and was posted to the Capability Systems office in RAAF Headquarters as Deputy Director Firepower. Iervasi was involved in a number of major capital equipment projects in this role, which included significant systems and armament upgrades to the F/A-18 Hornet as part of the Hornet Upgrade Program. [1] [3] [4] [5] He returned to RAAF Base Williamtown in 2005 as Senior Operations Officer in No. 81 Wing RAAF and, that December, assumed command of No. 3 Squadron. [1] [3] [4] In September 2006, Iervasi flew Federal Treasurer Peter Costello on a combat training exercise to demonstrate the upgrades to the F/A-18 Hornet; the pair reached speeds of 850 kilometres per hour (530 mph) and six times the force of gravity, and Costello was left with a bloodied right ear (ostensibly from a helmet injury). [6] [7] Iervasi relinquished command of the squadron in December 2008 and, in the 2009 Queen's Birthday Honours, was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for his command of No. 3 Squadron and "meritorious service in the development of Australia's air combat capability". [8]

Promoted to group captain in January 2009, Iervasi was appointed chief of staff of Air Combat Group RAAF. He completed the Defence and Strategic Studies Course in 2010, graduating with a Graduate Diploma of Strategic Studies and the Field Marshal Sir Thomas Blamey Award, and was appointed Officer Commanding No. 81 Wing RAAF from that December. [1] [3] [9] As Task Unit 664.2.1, Iervasi commanded surveillance and fighter aircraft from the wing as part of the security and counter-terrorism measures for the 2011 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth. [10] He relinquished command of the wing in December 2012, was appointed chief of staff to the Vice Chief of the Defence Force in January 2013 and, promoted to air commodore, was deployed to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar as director of the 609th Combined Air Operations Centre in January 2014. Iervasi returned to Australia in July 2014 as Director General Air and, [1] [3] [4] in the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours, was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his "exceptional service in air combat capability development and military operations". [11] He was next appointed commander of the nascent Air Warfare Centre from December 2016. [1] [3] [4] The centre had been established earlier that year, succeeding the Aerospace Operational Support Group RAAF in providing operational support to RAAF operations and to foster joint integration. [12]

Iervasi was promoted to air vice-marshal in December 2018 and, the following month, deployed to Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates as Commander Joint Task Force 633. Iervasi held command responsibility for all Australian forces in the Middle East Area of Operations and, in particular, Operations Okra and Highroad. [1] [3] He remained in the Middle East until June 2019 and, [13] for his "outstanding achievement... exceptional operational oversight, [and] critical leadership" as Commander Joint Task Force 633, was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours. [14] On his return to Australia, Iervasi succeeded Air Vice-Marshal Steve Roberton as Air Commander Australia, with responsibility for more than 10,000 personnel and the operational capability of the RAAF. [1] [15] After almost three years in the role, Iervasi handed over Air Command to Air Vice-Marshal Darren Goldie in April 2022 and subsequently retired from the RAAF. By the time of his retirement, Iervasi had logged more than 3,000 hours flying. [16]

Post-military career

Iervasi was briefly, in February 2024, appointed an Assistant Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force to support an independent inquiry into the fatal crash of an MRH-90 Taipan helicopter during Exercise Talisman Sabre the previous year, which killed four crew; [17] he was replaced by Air Vice-Marshal Geoffrey Harland in March. [18] That May, Iervasi was elected National President of the RAAF Association. [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Australian Air Force</span> Air warfare and space branch of the Australian Defence Force

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the principal aerial warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Army. Constitutionally the Governor-General of Australia is the de jure Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Defence Force. The Royal Australian Air Force is commanded by the Chief of Air Force (CAF), who is subordinate to the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF). The CAF is also directly responsible to the Minister for Defence, with the Department of Defence administering the ADF and the Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoff Shepherd</span>

Air Marshal Geoffrey David Shepherd is a retired senior officer in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), who served as Chief of Air Force from 2005 until 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Combat Group RAAF</span> Force element group of the Royal Australian Air Force

The Royal Australian Air Force's Air Combat Group (ACG) is the group which administers the RAAF's fighter and bomber aircraft. ACG was formed on 7 February 2002 by merging the RAAF's Tactical Fighter Group and Strike Reconnaissance Group in an attempt to improve the speed with which the RAAF can deploy its combat aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neville McNamara</span> Royal Australian Air Force and Australian Defence Force chief

Air Chief Marshal Sir Neville Patrick McNamara, was a senior commander of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He served as Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), the RAAF's highest-ranking position, from 1979 until 1982, and as Chief of the Defence Force Staff (CDFS), Australia's top military role at the time, from 1982 until 1984. He was the second RAAF officer to hold the rank of air chief marshal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Bostock</span> Royal Australian Air Force senior commander

Air Vice Marshal William Dowling Bostock, was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). During World War II he led RAAF Command, the Air Force's main operational formation, with responsibility for the defence of Australia and air offensives against Japanese targets in the South West Pacific Area. His achievements in the role earned him the Distinguished Service Order and the American Medal of Freedom. General Douglas MacArthur described him as "one of the world's most successful airmen".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Binskin</span> Senior Royal Australian Air Force officer

Air Chief Marshal Mark Donald Binskin, is a senior officer in the Royal Australian Air Force Reserve. He served as Chief of Air Force (2008–11), Vice Chief of the Defence Force (2011–14), and Chief of the Defence Force from June 2014 until his retirement in July 2018. In February 2020 he was appointed as a Commissioner and Chairman of the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements. He is the current chair of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Australia.

Air Vice Marshal Alfred John Quaife, AM is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Read (RAAF officer)</span> Royal Australian Air Force senior commander

Air Marshal Sir Charles Frederick Read, KBE, CB, DFC, AFC was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He served as Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) from 1972 to 1975. Born in Sydney, Read joined the RAAF in 1937, and began his career flying biplane fighters. As a Beaufighter pilot, he led No. 31 Squadron and No. 77 Wing in the South West Pacific during World War II. His achievements earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross and a mention in despatches, and he finished the war an acting group captain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allan Walters</span> Royal Australian Air Force senior commander

Air Vice Marshal Allan Leslie Walters, CB, CBE, AFC was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Born in Victoria and raised in Western Australia, he graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon, before transferring to the RAAF in 1928. He was one of the service's leading flying instructors and aerobatic pilots between the wars, and was appointed to his first squadron command in 1937. Over the course of World War II, Walters led No. 1 Squadron in Singapore, No. 1 (Fighter) Wing in Darwin, Northern Territory, No. 72 Wing in Dutch New Guinea, and Northern Command in Papua New Guinea. He was decorated with the Air Force Cross in 1941 for his work with No. 1 Squadron, and mentioned in despatches in 1944 for his service with No. 72 Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mel Hupfeld</span>

Air Marshal Melvin Ernest Glanville Hupfeld, is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Air Force. He served as Air Commander Australia from 2012 to 2014 and was the acting and final Chief Capability Development Group (2015–16), before being appointed as Head Force Design in the Vice Chief of the Defence Force Group (2016–18). He was promoted air marshal and made Chief of Joint Operations in May 2018, and succeeded Air Marshal Leo Davies as Chief of Air Force in July 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leo Davies</span>

Air Marshal Gavin Neil "Leo" Davies, is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). A navigator who retrained as a pilot, he joined the RAAF in 1979, commanded No. 1 Squadron RAAF (2002–03) and No. 82 Wing RAAF (2004–05), deployed to Iraq in 2007, and was Australia's air attaché in Washington, D.C. (2010–11). He served as Deputy Chief of Air Force from 2012 to 2015 and succeeded Air Marshal Geoff Brown as Chief of Air Force, the professional head of the RAAF, in July 2015. He retired from the RAAF in July 2019.

Air Marshal Warren George McDonald, is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He joined the RAAF as a 15-year-old apprentice and, in 1989, underwent pilot training. A series of squadron and staff postings in Australia, Canada and Malaysia followed, before he was appointed to command No. 11 Squadron (2007–09), No. 92 Wing (2009–11) and Air Mobility Group (2013–15). He was Deputy Chief of Air Force from July 2015 to May 2017 and the inaugural Chief of Joint Capabilities from July 2017 to November 2020.

Air Vice Marshal Tracy Lee Smart, is an Australian physician, medical administrator, and a retired senior officer in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). She served as Commander of Joint Health Command and Surgeon General of the Australian Defence Force from December 2015 to December 2019. Smart was the third woman to reach the rank of air vice marshal in the RAAF.

Air Vice Marshal Gavin Alexander Turnbull, is a retired senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He joined the RAAF in 1984, trained as a helicopter pilot, and transferred to fast jets in 1991. He has commanded No. 77 Squadron RAAF (2002–04), No. 81 Wing RAAF (2007–11) and the 609th Combined Air Operations Centre (2012), and deployed on operations to the Sinai Peninsula, Iraq and Afghanistan. He served as Air Commander Australia from 2014 to 2017, and Deputy Chief of Air Force from May 2017 to July 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Roberton</span>

Air Vice Marshal Steven Peter "Zed" Roberton, is a retired senior commander of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He joined the RAAF in 1989 and trained as a fighter pilot. He has deployed to Iraq, commanded No. 75 Squadron RAAF (2003–06) and No. 82 Wing RAAF (2010–11), and led Air Task Group 630 on operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (2014–15). He served as commander Air Combat Group RAAF from 2015 to 2017, Air Commander Australia from 2017 to 2019, and Head Force Design within the Vice Chief of Defence Force Group from June 2019 to February 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Meredith</span> Australian air force officer

Air Vice Marshal Stephen Leslie Meredith, is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He joined the RAAF as a navigator in 1986. He has commanded No. 6 Squadron RAAF (2006–08), No. 42 Wing RAAF (2008–10), the Aerospace Operational Support Group RAAF (2014–16) and the Combined Air Operations Centre (2017), and has served on operations in the Gulf War, War in Afghanistan and in the International military intervention against ISIL. He served as Head Force Integration from 2017 to 2019, before being appointed Deputy Chief of Air Force from July 2019 to January 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Chipman</span> Australian air force officer

Air Marshal Robert Timothy Chipman, is a senior officer in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He joined the RAAF as an aeronautical engineer in 1989 and gained his pilot's wings in 1994. He has commanded No. 75 Squadron RAAF (2006–09), the Air and Space Operations Centre (2010–12), No. 81 Wing RAAF (2013–14) and Air Task Unit 630.1 (2014), and deployed to the Middle East on Operations Slipper and Okra. He served as the Australian Military Representative to NATO and the European Union from 2019 to 2021, Head Military Strategic Commitments from 2021 to 2022 and Chief of Air Force from 2022 to 2024. Chipman took over as the Vice Chief of the Defence Force on 9 July 2024.

Air Marshal Stephen Gareth Chappell, is a senior officer in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), currently serving as the Chief of Air Force. He joined the RAAF through the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1993 and gained his pilot's wings in 1998. He has deployed on Operations Falconer and Okra to Iraq, and has commanded No. 1 Squadron RAAF (2013–16) and No. 82 Wing RAAF (2018–20). He served as Head Military Strategic Commitments from July 2022 to June 2024, and was appointed Chief of Air Force on 3 July 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darren Goldie</span> Australian air force officer

Air Marshal Darren James Goldie, is a senior officer in the Royal Australian Air Force. He joined the RAAF through the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1993 and gained his pilot's wings in 1997. He has deployed on operations to East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan, and has commanded No. 37 Squadron RAAF (2012–15) and No. 92 Wing RAAF (2017–18). He was Air Commander Australia from April 2022 to June 2023, and served as the inaugural National Cyber Security Coordinator from July to November 2023.

Air Vice-Marshal Glen Edward Braz, is a senior officer in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He joined the RAAF through the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1987 and gained his pilot's wings in 1991. He has deployed on Operations Falconer and Okra to Iraq, and has commanded No. 1 Squadron RAAF (2008–11), Air Task Group 630 (2015), No. 82 Wing RAAF (2015–17) and Air Force Training Group RAAF (2017–19). He served as Deputy Chief of Air Force from January to June 2023, before assuming his current appointment as Air Commander Australia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Air Commander Australia: Air Vice-Marshal Joe 'Vinny' Iervasi, AM, CSC". Our Leaders. Royal Australian Air Force. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  2. ↑ O'Hara, Veronica (17 October 2019). "Strong Sense of Service". Air Force News. p. 3. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Williams Foundation Lunch with Air Commodore Joe 'Vinny' Iervasi, AM: Air Warfare Centre — Jericho in Action". Sir Richard Williams Foundation. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Introducing Air Vice-Marshal Joe 'Vinny' Iervasi, AM, CSC". Royal Australian Air Force Association New South Wales. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  5. ↑ Liebelt, Simone (18 December 2003). "Hornets Strongly Backed". Air Force News. p. 3. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  6. ↑ Mulvey, Paul (26 September 2006). "Top Gun 'Treas' Swaps J-curves for G-forces". The Courier Mail . p. 8.
  7. ↑ "Treasurer's View to a Bill". Air Force News. 5 October 2006. p. 2. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  8. ↑ "The Queen's Birthday 2009 Honours". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette . 8 June 2009. p. 24. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  9. ↑ "Award Recipients". The Field Marshal Sir Thomas Blamey Memorial Fund. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  10. ↑ Smith, Skye (10 November 2011). "Our CHOGM Efforts Get a Big Tick". Air Force News. p. 4–5. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  11. ↑ "Awards in the Military Division of the Order of Australia" (PDF). The Queen's Birthday 2016 Honours List. Office of the Governor-General of Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  12. ↑ Chalmers, Bruce (20 April 2017). "Giving Us the Edge". Air Force News. p. 17. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  13. ↑ Isaacson, Dion (25 July 2019). "Handing Over Command". Air Force News. p. 6. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  14. ↑ "Air Vice-Marshal Vincent Joseph Iervasi AM". Australian Honours Search Facility. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  15. ↑ Trimble, Katrina (25 July 2019). "Strong Sense of Service". Air Force News. p. 4. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  16. ↑ Marchant, Bronwyn (8 April 2022). "Air Commander Australia Change of Hands". Defence News. Department of Defence. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  17. ↑ Greene, Andrew (22 February 2024). "Independent Inquiry Launched into Fatal Taipan Army Helicopter Crash". ABC News. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  18. ↑ Gaynor, James (5 April 2024). "Directions to Assistants IGADF: IGADF Inquiry Into the Crash of an MRH-90 Taipan Helicopter in Waters Near Lindeman Island on 28 July 2023" (PDF). Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  19. ↑ "New Leadership for Air Force Association Following AGM". RAAF Association. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
Military offices
Preceded by
Air Vice-Marshal Steve Roberton
Air Commander Australia
2019–2022		Succeeded by
Air Vice-Marshal Darren Goldie
Preceded by
Rear Admiral Jaimie Hatcher
Commander Joint Task Force 633
January–July 2019		Succeeded by
Rear Admiral Mark Hill
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.