Warrant Officer of the Air Force Ralph Clifton
Warrant Officer of the Air Force Ralph Clifton joined the Royal Australian Air Force in January 1986 as a trade Apprentice on number 40 intake. Trade training was completed as an Airframe Fitter before a posting to No. 2 Aviation Depot at RAAF Base Richmond conducting Deeper Level Maintenance on C-130 Hercules and P-3C Orion aircraft.
In December 1989, Warrant Officer of the Air Force Clifton was posted to No. 75 Squadron at RAAF Base Tindal where after Engine Fitter trade training, he was remustered to Aircraft Technician.
A remuster to Flight Engineer was achieved in 1996 with a posting to No. 37 Squadron. Training was completed on the C-130E in February 1997. Type conversion to the C-130H was conducted in 2000 with a subsequent posting to No. 36 Squadron.
In 2003 Warrant Officer of the Air Force Clifton was posted to No. 285 Squadron as a Flight Engineer Instructor followed by a posting back to No. 36 Squadron in 2006.
In 2010 Warrant Officer of the Air Force Clifton was posted to No. 292 Squadron to begin AP-3C type conversion and in 2011 upon graduation was posted to No.11 Squadron.
2016 saw Warrant Officer of the Air Force Clifton appointed as the Squadron Warrant Officer of No.11 Squadron. This position was held through the AP-3C to P-8A Poseidon transition concluding in December 2018. 2017 also saw Warrant Officer of the Air Force Clifton take up the Operations Officer role at No.11 Squadron.
The Squadron Warrant Officer theme was continued with a posting to No. 35 Squadron in 2019 as the squadron moved from RAAF Base Richmond to RAAF Base Amberley.
Warrant Officer of the Air Force Clifton was the Wing Warrant Officer at No. 96 Wing in 2020 and 2021.
In 2022 Warrant Officer of the Air Force Clifton was appointed the Combat Support Group Warrant Officer.
Warrant Officer of the Air Force Clifton has been deployed as part of the following operations; Operation Warden, Falconer, Sumatra Assist, Catalyst, Slipper, Astute, Resolute, Gateway, Solania, and Parapet.
Warrant Officer of the Air Force Clifton was promoted and appointed as the 10th Warrant Office of the Air Force on 1 December 22.
Warrant Officer of the Air Force Clifton has been supported throughout his Air Force career by his ever patient wife Melissa and has 2 adult sons.