Air Vice-Marshal Robert Denney (Ret) joined Northrop Grumman in January 2025 following a 33-year career with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). As Country Executive for Australia, he leads the company’s Country Strategy and manages relationships with senior Government and Defence leaders whilst guiding efforts to build local industry partnerships and streamlining U.S. reach-back in support of Australian and AUKUS technology priorities.
Rob has extensive leadership experience and an in-depth understanding of Australian military operations and capabilities. Prior to his retirement from the RAAF, he was Head of Force Integration, on the Joint Staff, where he was responsible for leading, designing and assuring the delivery of interoperable capabilities for the joint force.
Born in Wollongong, New South Wales, he joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1991 as a cadet at the Australian Defence Force Academy studying Aeronautical Engineering. He completed Pilots Course and operational tours as an F-111 pilot before graduating from Empire Test Pilot School in the United Kingdom and test pilot tours at the Aircraft Research and Development Unit.
He has Commanded No 6 Squadron (Super Hornet) and No 82 Wing (Super Hornet and Growler aircraft) at RAAF Amberley. Rob has twice deployed to the Middle East Region, both in the Combined Air Operations Centre at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, as part of Operation OKRA. He was awarded a Commendation for Distinguished Service for the first deployment. In 2018, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for exceptional service in air combat capability development and sustainment.
Rob performed the role of the Joint Force Air Component Commander during Australia’s 2020 Bushfire and COVID responses and he has completed one- and two-star postings in Air Force Headquarters’ Capability Division including Head of Air Force Capability.
Rob is a graduate of the Joint Command and Staff Program at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto, Canada, has completed the Higher Command and Staff Course at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom and the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
Rob lives in Canberra with his wife and children and enjoys cycling and his weekly round of golf.
