Glen Braz | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | "Blitz"[1] |
| Born | 1969 (age 55–56) |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Years of service | 1987–present |
| Rank | Air Vice-Marshal |
| Commands | Air Command (2023–) Deputy Chief of Air Force (2023) Air Force Training Group RAAF (2017–19) No. 82 Wing RAAF (2015–17) Air Task Group 630 (2015) No. 1 Squadron RAAF (2008–11) |
| Battles / wars | Iraq War War against the Islamic State |
| Awards | Member of the Order of Australia Conspicuous Service Cross Distinguished Service Medal |
Air Vice-MarshalGlen Edward Braz,AM, CSC, DSM (born 1969) is a senior officer in theRoyal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He joined the RAAF through theAustralian Defence Force Academy in 1987 and gained hispilot's wings in 1991. He has deployed onOperations Falconer andOkra to Iraq, and has commandedNo. 1 Squadron RAAF (2008–11),Air Task Group 630 (2015),No. 82 Wing RAAF (2015–17) andAir Force Training Group RAAF (2017–19). He served asDeputy Chief of Air Force from January to June 2023, before assuming his current appointment asAir Commander Australia.
Braz entered theAustralian Defence Force Academy as aRoyal Australian Air Force (RAAF)officer cadet in 1987. He graduated from the academy with a Bachelor of Science in physics in 1989 and,[2][3] following flying training atNo. 2 Flying Training School RAAF, graduated from No. 155 Pilot Course with hispilot's wings in June 1991.[4] Followinglead-in fighter training and conversion to theGeneral Dynamics F-111C aircraft, Braz was posted toNo. 1 Squadron RAAF atRAAF Base Amberley inQueensland. He qualified as a flying instructor in 1997, and subsequently instructed on thePilatus PC-9 trainer aircraft and theMacchi MB-326H lead-in-fighter. Braz returned to No. 1 Squadron in 2001 asflight commander of weapons and reconnaissance and, in 2003, was posted to theCombined Air Operations Centre to supportOperation Falconer, Australia's contribution to theinvasion of Iraq.[2][3]
Following his return to Australia, Braz was appointedexecutive officer ofNo. 6 Squadron RAAF at RAAF Base Amberley.[5] In 2006, he was promoted towing commander and graduated from theAustralian Command and Staff College,[2][6] before being appointed Deputy Director Air-Land Integration. He was next made deputy director of the Super Hornet Transition Team, to assist in the introduction of theBoeing F/A-18F Super Hornet into Australian service, and in January 2009 was appointedcommanding officer of No. 1 Squadron, the first RAAF unit—and the first squadron outside of the United States—to operate the Super Hornet.[2][3][7][8] The first five Super Hornets were accepted by the RAAF in March 2010; Braz led the ferrying flight of the first set of aircraft fromCalifornia to Australia, touching down at RAAF Base Amberley on 26 March.[9] Braz relinquished command of the squadron in May 2011 and, in theQueen's Birthday Honours the following month, he was awarded theConspicuous Service Cross in recognition of his "outstanding achievement" in command of the unit and for his role in the transition to the Super Hornet.[10]
Braz was posted to the Australian Embassy inWashington, D.C. later in 2011, where he served as Air Staff Officer Plans and Operations. On his return to Australia, he was made Director of the EA-18G Growler Transition, to oversee the introduction of theBoeing EA-18G Growler into service with the RAAF. In January 2015, Braz deployed toAl Minhad Air Base in theUnited Arab Emirates as commander of the second rotation of Air Task Group 630 onOperation Okra.[2][3][11] Braz was responsible for six F/A-18F Super Hornet strike aircraft (replaced byF/A-18A Hornets in March), aE-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, oneKC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport and 400 personnel in conductingoperations against the Islamic State.[11][12][13] The role of the Air Task Group included carrying outairstrikes against ISIL, in support of Iraqi and Kurdish ground forces, and to provide humanitarian and logistic support to coalition partners.[11][13] During the six-month deployment, the Air Task Group dropped 152,500 pounds (69,200 kg) of explosive ordnance in 277 airstrikes.[14] Braz returned to Australia in July 2015 and, in the2016 Queen's Birthday Honours, was awarded theDistinguished Service Medal for his "distinguished leadership" on Operation Okra.[15]
Posted once again to RAAF Base Amberley, Braz was appointed to commandNo. 82 Wing RAAF from December 2015. He became commanderAir Force Training Group RAAF in 2017 and, during his two-year tenure, Braz oversaw the replacement of the Pilatus PC-9 with thePilatus PC-21 for flying training, the centralisation of initial officer aviation training atRAAF East Sale, and significant reforms toProfessional Military Education in the RAAF, which included the establishment of the Air Academy and the Ground Academy.[2][16][17] For his role in these reforms, and for his "exceptional performance" in enabling strategic capability and air combat sustainment, Braz was appointed aMember of the Order of Australia in the2019 Australia Day Honours.[18] He was appointed Director General Military Strategic Commitments in December 2019 and, on promotion toair vice-marshal in July 2020, he was seconded to theAustralian Signals Directorate (ASD) as First Assistant Director-General, Expeditionary and Transnational Intelligence Division.[2][3] His role was, in part, to commandAustralian Defence Force (ADF) personnel seconded to the ASD in support of cyber and signals intelligence, which was used by the ADF for defence and operational planning.[19]
Braz briefly served asDeputy Chief of Air Force from January to June 2023, before succeeding Air Vice-MarshalDarren Goldie asAir Commander Australia.[1][2][3] As Air Commander, Braz commands the combat arm and oversees the operational capability of the RAAF.[2]
Braz is married to Charnie, with whom he has two daughters.[2]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Air Vice-MarshalDarren Goldie | Air Commander Australia 2023–present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by Air Vice-MarshalStephen Meredith | Deputy Chief of Air Force January–June 2023 | Succeeded by Air Vice-MarshalHarvey Reynolds |