Community & Business
15 November, 2023
Commandant Colonel David Lynch to move on from Swartz Barracks
Swartz Barracks Commandant Colonel David Lynch will be moving on from his position at Oakey’s Army Aviation Base, having overseen the Base’s response to the 2022 floods and a time of internal organisational change.
The Commandant coordinated rescue efforts in the 2022 floods where Army Aviation rescued over 100 people from rising waters in Northern New South Wales.
He also oversaw the initial stages of planning to bring in the Black Hawks to replace the MH-90 Taipan fleet.
Colonel Lynch, who will finish up in January 2024, attended a Great-Gatsby themed ball held in his honour on the weekend at the function room of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Toowoomba.
The Head of Army Aviation Control Major General Steve Jobson was in attendance.
Colonel Lynch took a brief moment to talk with The Champion ahead of the end of his term.
“Nothing goes perfectly to plan and you deal with the challenges as they come,” he said.
“The next three years - 2024, 2025, 2026 - are critical for continuation at the base.
“We’ve had new organisational structure.”
Along with the departure of the Commandant, the base will also see a new Chief of Staff and a new Commanding Officer of the Rotary-Wing Aircraft Maintenance School.
Regimental Sergeant Major Terry Hangard was at the ball, and will also be making way next year.
When asked about whether this was because 2024 would be a quiet period for the base, the Commandant laughed.
“I wouldn’t say (2024) is quiet. Quieter, maybe”
Colonel Lynch has been a presence for many years at Swartz Barracks.
Outside of his time at the Base, he was the Director of Operational Airworthiness for HQ FORCOMD Aviation Branch, and is a qualified ARH Tiger pilot and instructor.
Under his command, the Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters (ARH) became the first in the world to fly 2000 hours, reaching the milestone on a flight from the Army Aviation Training Centre, Oakey, to Gallipoli Barracks Enoggera in 2017.
In a Garrison Catchup column last year, Colonel Lynch spoke warmly of how Army Aviation and the Republic of Singapore Air Force, also based in Oakey, had worked together during the floods.
“Their rapid and forthright support to Australians in need is deeply respected and appreciated making true the old saying, ‘a friend in need is a friend indeed’,” he said.
