This conversation will provide the opportunity to discuss the importance of Australian defence industry from the Delivery Manager perspective, and how we can continue to best work with industry to deliver capability at the speed necessitated by the current strategic environment.
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Speakers
Deputy Secretary Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group, Chris Deeble AO CSC
Chris Deeble is the Deputy Secretary of the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG) in the Department of Defence.
Chris has extensive experience spanning the defence, industry and commercial sectors and working with Government. He also served for 37 years in the Australian Defence Force, most notably as an Air Vice-Marshal.
His most recent appointment was Chief Executive at Northrop Grumman Australia. Prior to that he worked for Airservices Australia as the program executive for OneSKY, responsible for delivering the Civil Military Air Traffic Management System for Australia.
Chris returns to CASG after previously holding the role of Senior Program Manager where he managed more than $25 billion of complex acquisition and sustainment programs including the Joint Strike Fighter, Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control, Multi Role Tanker Transport and Collins Class Submarine.
Chris has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Sydney. He was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) in 2007, and recognized in 2016 as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).
Chris is married to Donna and they have five adult children. They enjoy travel, movies and spending time with family.
Deputy Secretary Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Group, David Hanley
David Hanley is an accomplished international defence and aerospace executive with a distinguished career spanning more than 30 years. David has held senior leadership roles in Australia, the US and the Middle East, driving business growth, program excellence and industry development.
In July 2025, David assumed the role of Deputy Secretary Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment, where he leads the Defence Group responsible as delivery manager of maritime capabilities and the capability manager for the government’s continuous naval shipbuilding and sustainment outcomes.
Before this, David served as Raytheon’s Vice President of Global Industrialization where he was responsible for defining Raytheon’s international industrialisation strategy and delivery of offset and localisation initiatives across the Middle East, North Africa, Asia and Europe. These projects ranged across multiple military domains including guided weapons, land-based air defence and C4I systems.
He also served as CEO of Raytheon Middle East and North Africa, leading Raytheon’s regional strategy, business growth and program execution. David also held the roles of CEO and COO of Raytheon Saudi Arabia, where he transformed the company into a sovereign defence enterprise, drove substantial business expansion and secured multiple major industrialisation and technology transfer contracts.
Before his international assignments, David spent nearly 15 years with Raytheon Australia, where he held senior leadership roles across general management, operations, strategy, business development and program execution – including successful delivery of the first of class combat system for Australia’s air warfare destroyer. Prior to this, he served as an aeronautical engineer in the Royal Australian Navy for 15 years, with assignments in Australia, the UK and the US.
David holds a Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering (Hons) from the University of New South Wales and a Master of Business Administration from La Trobe University. He is a graduate of the Australia Institute of Company Directors and the Leadership Excellence Program at Duke University.
Chief Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Group, Air Marshal Leon Phillips OAM
Air Marshal Leon Phillips, OAM is an engineer and program manager with over 36 years of extensive experience across Defence.
His junior appointments spanned a range of roles across materiel support, engineering and staff roles.
In 2012, on promotion to Group Captain he worked as Project Director responsible for Maritime Surveillance projects. He was then appointed Officer of Commanding, Surveillance and Control Systems Program Office. His role involved the acquisition and sustainment of Defence assigned airspace surveillance, control and communications systems.
In 2017, he was promoted to Air Commodore. He continued his work in acquisition and sustainment of Air Force’s capabilities.
In 2019, he joined the Chief Information Officer (CIO) Group. His work involved integrating major weapon systems into the strategic Defence ICT network.
In 2022, he was promoted to Air Vice-Marshal and appointed Head of Aerospace Systems Division within Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG).
Air Marshal Leon Phillips has a degree in Electronic Engineering, Master’s in Project Management and an Executive Master’s in Business. He is also a Master Project Director with the Australian Institute of Project Management and a Fellow of Engineers Australia. He received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2018.
Married to Air Commodore (retired) Angie Castner, he has four adult children. He has played in Australia’s National Hockey League and represented Australia at the Masters level. In his spare time, he enjoys cycling and cooking.
Republished by The Sub Monitor as Indo Pacific 2025 event’s official media partner.
