#19ASF /

Speaker Details_

AIRCDRE Chris

Robson

Credentials

Commander Space Forces Group/Joint Forces Space Component Commander

Space Command

Contact/Connect

Biography

Air Commodore Chris Robson is an Air Combat Officer with 32 years
of experience in the Air Force across all areas inclusive of
operations, planning and capability management.
He joined the Air Force in January 1993 and graduated as an Air
Battle Management (ABM) officer. As a junior officer he was posted
to No 2 Control and Reporting Unit in Darwin controlling fighter
operations, as an ABM Instructor, and as the Senior Training
Development Officer responsible for the development and
introduction of the Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN)
simulator and training regime at the JORN Project team in
Melbourne.
On promotion to Squadron Leader in 2002, Air Commodore Robson
was posted to No 1 Radar Surveillance Unit, and served as the
Training Officer, Operations Officer and Executive Officer in
successive years. Through this period, he was responsible for the
delivery, acceptance and introduction to operations of the JORN.
In 2005 he was posted to Headquarters Air Command as
part of the planning cell, where he was responsible for Air Defence planning and Air Operations
Centre exercise participation. He attended Command and Staff course in 2007 and upon graduation,
he was posted to Special Operations Command where he served for two years, inclusive of a sixmonth deployment working as part of the United Nations Mission in Sudan.
In 2009, Air Commodore Robson was selected as the RAAF exchange officer at Vandenberg AFB in
the 614th AOC as the Chief of Strategy Guidance under Commander Joint Force Component
Command Space. During this period he was both the US and Australian operational lead for the
development of the Combined Space Operations CSPO concept. He returned to Australia in 2013 as
the Chief of the Australian Space Operations Centre at Headquarters Joint Operations (HQJOC).
Air Commodore Robson was selected as the Commanding Officer of No 1 Radar Surveillance Unit in
December 2014, led the development of advanced Wide Area Surveillance procedures, introduced
into service new Space surveillance capabilities and training systems, and delivered an enduring
workforce plan to guide the establishment of a core of Space operators. He promoted to Group
Captain in 2017 and selected as the HQJOC Director of Domestic and Regional Operations.
Over 2019-20, he served as Director Defence Space within Joint Capabilities Group and Director
Space Control within Air Force Headquarters. He attended CDSS in 2021, before promotion to Air
Commodore in January 2022 and a posting to US Pacific Command, Hawaii, where he filled the role
of J5 Deputy Director Regional Assistance.
In December 2024, Air Commodore Robson returned to Australia, posting to Space Command as the
Commander Space Forces Group/Joint Forces Space Component Commander based out of HQJOC
and Space Command – Fairbairn.
Air Commodore Robson is married to Terrie and together they have three adult children, Brodie,
Grace and Lochlan

Sessions

Day 1 Tuesday, 21 July 2026

State of Space: Defence Perspective

Time

10:45AM - 11:00AM

Location

Plenary Hall

(Halls C & D)

Adelaide Convention Centre

Day 2 Wednesday, 22 July 2025

Operation Blackout – An exercise in resilience in critical infrastructure

Time

8:30AM - 10:00AM

Location

Plenary Hall

(Halls C & D)

Adelaide Convention Centre

Join Chris
for the
19th Australian Space Forum

Global Challenges, Regional Solutions: Space Partnerships in the Indo-Pacific

21-22 july 2O26
Adelaide, south australia

The
Andy Thomas
Space
Foundation

The Australian Space Forum is proudly hosted by the Andy Thomas Space Foundation

Proudly hosted by the Andy Thomas Space Foundation, profits from the Australian Space Forum support the Foundation’s annual space education fund and student engagement programs to inspire the next generation of pioneers in Australian space.

CONTACT_

For general enquiries about the Australian Space Forum, please contact our team at the Andy Thomas Space Foundation:

Level 3 / McEwin Building

Lot Fourteen, North Terrace
Adelaide, SA 5000
To make a sponsorship enquiry, or book an exhibition space, please email:
spaceforum@andythomas.foundation

For media enquiries, or to obtain a media pass/access to speakers or delegates for the 19th Australian Space Forum, please email:

spaceforum@andythomas.foundation

ATSF Social Channels_

Stay up-to-date with #19ASF program and speaker announcements via the Andy Thomas Space Foundation’s social media:

Mailing List_

Sign up to receive the Andy Thomas Space Foundation’s regular space industry newsletter:

CONTACT_

For general enquiries about the Australian Space Forum, please contact our team at the Andy Thomas Space Foundation:
The Andy Thomas Space Foundation

Level 3 / McEwin Building

Lot Fourteen, North Terrace
Adelaide, SA 5000
To make a sponsorship enquiry, or book an exhibition space, please email:

For media enquiries, or to obtain a media pass/access to speakers or delegates for the 19th Australian Space Forum, please email:

ATSF Social Channels_

Stay up-to-date with #19ASF program and speaker announcements via the Andy Thomas Space Foundation’s social media:

Mailing List_

Sign up to receive the Andy Thomas Space Foundation’s regular space industry newsletter:

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