Reflections of Air Marshal Ray Funnell AC Chief of Air Staff 1987 -92

Air Marshal Ray Funnell, AC is a retired senior commander of the Royal Australian Air Force. He served as Chief of the Air Staff from 1987 until 1992. A graduate of RAAF College, he began his career flying Sabre jet fighters in Australia and South East Asia in the 1950s and 1960s. From 1972 to 1975, he commanded No. 6 Squadron, during which time the General Dynamics F-111C swing-wing bomber entered Australian service. He held senior staff posts in the early 1980s. In 1986, he was promoted to Air Marshal and became the inaugural Vice Chief of the Defence Force. Appointed Chief of the Air Staff in July 1987, Ray was closely involved in the development and dissemination of air power doctrine. He retired from the RAAF in October 1992 following his term as Chief, and was founding Principal of the Australian College of Defence and Strategic Studies from 1994 to 1998. Since then, he has served on various Federal Government committees on immigration and detention.