Air Commodore Nick Osborne

Recent Commander Surveillance and Response Group

AIR COMMODORE Nick Osborne joined the RAAF in 2002 having served 20 years in the Royal New Zealand Air Force as a pilot. While in the New Zealand Air Force he flew Skyhawk and Macchi jets and served on exchange at RAAF Pearce flying Macchi and PC-9 aircraft.

During his flying career, he accumulated over 5500 hours mostly in jets. He joined the RAAF following the disbandment of the Air Combat Force in New Zealand.

During his time in the RAAF, Nick flew Hawks at Williamtown, and from 2008 to 2010 he was appointed as the Commanding Officer of 76 Squadron.

Following a three year tour as the Executive Office of 78 Wing, he was posted to Headquarters Air Command where he served as the Director of Capability.  Nick was posted to Surveillance and Response Group as Chief of Staff in October 2018 before taking up the position of Commander Surveillance and Response Group on 28 May 2021.

Nick served as the Special Assistant to the Deputy Head of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo in 2000.

He also served in Afghanistan as the Commander of the Heron Remotely Piloted Aircraft detachment in Kandahar in 2012/13.

Nick Osborne enjoys supporting the All Blacks, he coaches and umpires netball, and is President of the ADF Netball Association. He is married to Sue and has two daughters and two grandchildren.