Flight Lieutenant Aimee McCartney, The Buloke Times
On May 5, 2023, Headquarters Air Academy (HQ AirA) personnel gathered at the RAAF East Sale Yarning Circle to celebrate the significant service and diverse career of Wing Commander (WGCDR) Garry McKee.
Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal (AIRMSHL) Robert Chipman AM, CSC had the honour of presenting the sixth clasp of the Defence Long Service Medal to Staff Officer Logistics Engineering, HQ Air Academy, WGCDR McKee who has achieved a milestone of 45 years of service.
“We recognise WGCDR Garry McKee for his length of dedicated service, and we recognise and thank him and his family for their support,” AIRMSHL Chipman said.
From Charlton
At 16 years of age, WGCDR McKee, from Charlton in Victoria, enlisted into the Air Force as an apprentice Radio Technician.
After completing his initial employment training, WGCDR McKee commenced what was to become a long association with the General Dynamics F-111 Bomber, working in all facets of avionics maintenance, maintenance management, logistics and engineering support, both on and off the aircraft.
In 1996, WGCDR McKee commissioned as an Electronics Engineer and in 2001, went on exchange to the Royal Air Force.
Whilst in the United Kingdom, he was sponsored by the Royal Air Force to undertake an Engineering Management Degree at the University of Lincoln.
Returning to Australia in 2004, WGCDR McKee worked within the Aerospace Systems Division and Capability Development Group.
“As the Senior Maintenance Manager at No. 6 Squadron, we had the mission to reconfigure from the F-111 bomber to the F/A-18F Super Hornet – a feat the squadron was able to achieve in only six weeks,” WGCDR McKee said.
WGCDR McKee has also served as Staff Officer Engineering at Headquarters Combat Support Group and Head of Delegation for the Five Eyes Air Forces Interoperability Council, Agile Combat Support Working Group, and served in these roles until transferring to the Reserves in January 2018.
In January 2020, WGCDR McKee returned to full-time service and was posted to the USA to undertake the role of Australian Representative and Chief of Staff to the Air Force Interoperability Council Management Committee.
Having returned from the USA in February 2023, he now works as the Logistics Engineering team leader with Headquarters Air Academy.
WGCDR McKee’s duties have seen him serve in 11 countries, and his passion for travel has taken him to a further 22.
He is married to Karen and they have three adult children and six grandchildren.
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 23 June 2023.
