Australian Air Cadets Alumni Magazine Nov 2022
In this edition of the Alumni Magazine I will be handing over the reins to a man many of you will already know. Warren Bishop comes to this position with a wealth of experience both in the RAAF as an Airframe Fitter and then as an Aeronautical Engineer with some great projects behind him, including the very successful acquisitions, including the F/A-18, C-17A and C-27J. In the AAFC Warren has been instructing cadets in Canberra, led the AAFC team to the UK for competition and is now Commanding Officer of our latest AAFC Unit in the ACT. With this background Warren will be a whole lot closer than someone who was a Cadet over 60 years ago. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as Director of the Air Cadet Alumni and member of the AAFC National Council and AAFC Foundation. I would like to thank those members who have gone out of their way to provide material for our Magazine. In particular Paul Rosenzweig has been outstanding in his support.
Do you think it might be time for you to give something back to our Cadets? The AAFC is looking for Staff members but not only that, the AAFC would like to hear from you to share your life skills in your chosen profession. You might like to make contact with a local Squadron in your area. Do you have industry experience?
Your feedback helps to shape the content we include in each edition so please keep it coming. So, why not share your knowledge and experience with other Alumni members? We look forward to your contribution.
Remember, if you like what you read in your magazine, you are most welcome to share and invite your friends who are ex Cadet or Staff members to join. If you don’t like what you are reading please tell us, AlumniDirector@aircadetsalumni.org.au We love to receive your letters. We hope that our magazine can remind you of your time in our great organization. We are always on the lookout for articles and photographs that you may like to share.
If you think you have missed out on some of the earlier Alumni Newsletters, the good news is you haven’t! They are available on the Air Cadets Alumni website, AAFC Web page, https://www.airforcecadets.gov.au/ and go to the Bulletin Board.
We need material that can be circulated to those who are no longer in touch with their old Squadron or in receipt of material from the AAFC. I am aware that the Newsletter is rather large and many readers would like me to cut back on the length. I certainly don’t anticipate that you will read the entire magazine, I know I don’t read the entire copy of The Australian, but I scan the paper and read what interests me.
BIO FOR GPCAPT WARREN BISHOP
Group Captain Warren Bishop joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1977 as a trainee aircraft technician. Group Captain Bishop was commissioned as an Aeronautical Engineer in 1987.
As a junior engineering officer, Group Captain Bishop enjoyed postings to the RAAF F/A-18 Acquisition Project and the RAAF F-111 Avionics Update Project over the period 1988-91.
In 1992, he was posted to RAAF Base Townsville as the Officer in Charge of Support Equipment and Special Purpose Vehicle maintenance. Two significant events during this assignment included site and recovery commander at two separate F/A-18 crashes in Far North Queensland.
Group Captain Bishop was posted to New Zealand in 1995, as an international Defence co-operation exchange officer with the Royal New Zealand Air Force, where he commanded the Deeper Maintenance program of the RNZAF A4K Skyhawk fleet.
He was promoted to Squadron Leader upon return to Australia in 1997, where he was appointed as a Flight Commander at the RAAF Officers’ Training School.
In 2000, he was appointed Senior Engineering Officer at Number 2 Flying Training School at RAAF Base Pearce in Western Australia to manage the maintenance program of the RAAF PC9 fleet of 43 aircraft.
In 2002, he was appointed Senior Engineering Officer at Number 32 Squadron at RAAF Base East Sale in Victoria as the Senior Maintenance Manager for the HS748 and B200 Kingair aircraft used for ACO training.
Promoted to Wing Commander in 2003, he was posted to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter project as the Industry Engagement Facilitation officer.
In 2007, Group Captain Bishop was posted to study at the University of New South Wales, Australian Defence Force Academy campus, in Canberra to complete a Master of Management Studies Degree, incorporating a double major in Technology & Innovation and Logistics.
In Dec 2007, Group Captain Bishop was appointed Project Manager of the Heavy Airlift Project Office, to acquire the C-17A Globemaster III capability.
Promoted to Group Captain in January 2012, he was appointed Project Director of the New Airlift Project Office, managing the acquisition of both, the C-27J Spartan Battlefield Airlifter, and C-17A Globemaster III Heavy Airlift program.
Group Captain Bishop has supported the AAFC since he was a cadet in the mid-1970s. He was appointed AFLO 7WG whilst SENGO 2FTS and is currently an ADF Auxiliary Instructor and XO at no 315SQN AAFC in Canberra. Group Captain Bishop was appointed CO of the AAFC’s newest SQN, no 327SQN Gungahlin in Canberra, in 2019. Group Captain Bishop was appointed as Director AAFC Alumni in 2022.
Until February,
Fly Safe and stay Covid Safe.
John Griffiths, MBE
Alumni Director
