Senior Appointment Follows

Senior Appointment Follows Family Tradition

It was a special family moment when Wing Commander Naomi Gill was appointed commanding officer of 27 Squadron at Townsville RAAF Base. Not only is she the first female officer to be the senior Australian Defence Officer on base, she is also commanding the same unit where her mum once served.

WGCDR Gill was born in Hobart where her father served as an infantry soldier and it was not long before the family made the first of many military postings to Townsville.

“We got posted up to Townsville when I was one.

“I spent a lot of my time in Townsville and there were a few postings to Canberra in there as well.”

While in Townsville she went to Wulguru State School then to St Patrick’s College for year 8.

When the posting as Commanding Officer to 27SQN became available WGCDR Gill put her hand up straight away.

“My postings had never really worked out to come back to Townsville so when the opportunity came up to be CO of 27SQN I put my hand up.” she said.

“I have been selected for the job and I am really looking forward to the next couple of years here and I always wanted to come back, I loved living in Townsville and growing up here.”

In her new role WGCDR Gill sees herself as a role model for both sexes.

“I think there are a lot of amazing females out there, both in the military and out of the military that are really good role models for many females and males these days as well.”

She said becoming the squadron commander was an important moment for her family.

“Mum joined the RAAF as a reserve officer to start with and was posted to 27SQN so when we were posted up here with my dad in the army.

“She is very proud. The day I told her I had been selected she cried so she is extremely proud to see me here.”

It was seeing her mum as an RAAF officer that prompted Naomi to join the ranks of the RAAF herself.

“I actually chose the air force because my mum was in the Air Force and she joined as a Personal Capability Officer.

“I actually saw what an amazing career she was having and how much she enjoyed being in the Air Force and I decided I wanted to give it a go.

“I then joined as a Personal Capabilities Officer as well and I have loved every minute since.”

Now 15 years later she is back in Townsville and looking forward to her two year tenure as CO of 27SQN.

“There has been some great work done with the Squadron in the last couple of years under WGCDR Matt Green.

“I will really just continue with that and ensure Townsville understands that it is not just the Army here, there is also the Air Force which is great and that we are a joint force under the ADF Joint Capabilities.”

“My tenure is for two years and I am looking forward to my two year tenure and I know it will go very fast so I want to make the most of it while I am here.

“This year is the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea which we played a good part in from the RAAF in Townsville that is coming up and we also have the Freedom of Entry march which was cancelled last year that could be a possibility as well.

“It is a great privilege to be in command of the Squadron and particularly in a location such as Townsville.”

Evan Morgan Townsville Bulletin Picture Evan Morgan