Warrant Officer – Air Force Ralph Clifton
Warrant Officer of the Air Force, Warrant Officer – Air Force (WOFF-AF) 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 WOFF-AF 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 WOFF-AF 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 WOFF-AF 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 WOFF-AF Clifton appointed as the Squadron Warrant Officer (SQNWOFF) of No.11 Squadron. This position was held through the AP-3C to P-8A Poseidon transition concluding in December 2018. 2017 also saw WOFF-AF Clifton take up the Operations Officer role at No.11 Squadron.
The SQNWOFF theme was continued with a posting to No. 35 Squadron in 2019 as the squadron moved from RAAF Base Richmond to RAAF Base Amberley.
WOFF-AF Clifton was the Wing Warrant Officer at No. 96 Wing in 2020 and 2021.
In 2022 WOFF-AF Clifton was appointed the Combat Support Group Warrant Officer.
WOFF-AF Clifton has been deployed as part of the following operations; Operation Warden, Falconer, Sumatra Assist, Catalyst, Slipper, Astute, Resolute, Gateway, Solania, and Parapet.
WOFF-AF Clifton was promoted and appointed as the 10th Warrant Office of the Air Force on 1 December 22.
WOFF-AF Clifton has been supported throughout his Air Force career by his ever patient wife Melissa and has two adult sons.