Brigadier David Hafner AM CSC

Incoming Commander, Aviation Command Australian Army

Brigadier David Hafner joined the Australian Army in 1991, and was commissioned in 1994 into the Australian Army Aviation Corps.

Over the course of his career, he has fulfilled a variety of command, staff and flying appointments at Squadron, Regiment and Brigade level. He has also served in training and instructional appointments at the Royal Military College of Australia, and as the Commandant of the Australian Army’s Land Warfare Centre.

Brigadier Hafner commenced his current appointment as the Deputy Commander of the Army’s Aviation Command in February 2022. Brigadier Hafner’s overseas operational service has included deployments to Timor Leste, the Solomon Islands and Pakistan. In 2011, he served as the advisor to the Operations Officer of the 205th Corps Afghan National Army. During 2017, Brigadier Hafner deployed to Iraq as the Director of Plans for the Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command. He has also been involved in numerous domestic relief efforts including cyclone, flood and bushfire responses.

In 2008, Brigadier Hafner was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross for outstanding achievement as the Officer Commanding B Squadron, 5th Aviation Regiment and Combat Team Vigilance, and in 2024 was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for exceptional service in the field of Army Aviation operations and capability management.

Brigadier Hafner is a graduate of the Australian Defence Force Academy, the Royal Military College – Duntroon, the Defence Services Staff College India, and a distinguished graduate of the United States Army War College. He holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering with Honours from the University of New South Wales, a Master of Science in Defence and Strategic Studies from University of Madras, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College.

In November 2024, Brigadier Hafner will assume command of the Australian Army’s Aviation Command on promotion to Major General.