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The first female pilot to be promoted to the rank of Group Captain in the RAAF has been made an AM in the Australia Day honours list.
Marija Jovanovich joins more than 79 ADF personnel to be rewarded for excellence and achievement in areas ranging from strategic leadership and command to operational planning and combat capability.
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Born in the former Yugoslavia, Jovanovich immigrated to New Zealand in 1995 and subsequently to Australia in 2001.
She joined the RAAF in 2001 and, in 2020, took over as the Commanding Officer of Number 10 Squadron at RAAF Base Edinburgh – the first woman to command the squadron since its inception in 1939 and only the second female pilot to command a RAAF flying squadron.
Finally, in 2023 she became Group Captain.
“I grew up in a household that was (an example of) stark equality,” she told The Advertiser in 2019. “My mother was one of the first female surgeons in the country (the former Yugoslavia). She had me when she was still in medical school.
“My father is also a surgeon. So I grew up watching my mother do what all the men did. Nobody ever had to explain to me that I could do anything. In fact, somebody would have had to explain to me that I couldn’t do something – and even then I would have taken some convincing.”
In support of Australia Day, the ADF provided displays in and around Sydney Harbour and Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra, including a Royal Australian Navy MH-60R Seahawk flying the Australian national flag underslung, Army firing a 21-gun salute, Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail conducting a flyover and a Roulettes flypast.
Commander Australian Fleet Rear Admiral Christopher Smith AM, CSM, said Defence was proud to join in Australia Day activities nationwide.
“Our sailors, soldiers and aviators are excited to strengthen their relationship with the community through these events,” RADM Smith said.
A full list of ADF honour recipients is below:
OFFICER (AO) IN THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA
Rear Admiral Jonathan Earley CSC RAN
MEMBER (AM) IN THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA
Navy: Commodore Richard Caton PSM RAN; Rear Admiral David Mann CSC RAN
Army: Major General B; Brigadier Matthew Campbell CSC; Colonel Martin Levey; Colonel Thomas McDermott AM CSC
Air Force: Wing Commander Cameron Douglas; Group Captain Marija Jovanovich CSM; Air Commodore Matthew McCormack; Air Commodore Michael Reidy; Warrant Officer Vanessa Schneider
MEDAL (OAM) IN THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA
Navy: Commander Luke Andrews RAN; Commander Sandra Bennett RAN; Lieutenant Commander Scott Clarke RAN; Chief Petty Officer Michael Cunnington; Captain Douglas Griffiths RAN; Commander Simon Kelly CSM RAN; Petty Officer Genene Sanders
Army: Warrant Officer Class One P; Warrant Officer Class One Jo-Anne Downes; Warrant Officer Class One Mark Everingham; Warrant Officer Class One Peter Wall
Air Force: Warrant Officer Gary Anderson; Group Captain John Price (retd)
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL (DSM)
Army: Brigadier James Hunter CSC
COMMENDATION FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
Army: Colonel Geoffrey Costello; Lieutenant Colonel Gerald McGowan
CONSPICUOUS SERVICE CROSS (CSC)
Navy: Warrant Officer Phillip Durnan CSM; Commander Nikola Ford RAN; Warrant Officer Stuart Hammond; Captain Matthew Hoffman RAN; Principal Chaplain Andrew Lewis RAN; Captain Antony Pisani RAN; Commander Matthew Ryall RAN; Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez Jr; Commodore Nigel Smith RAN; Commander Calvin Timms RAN
Army: Lieutenant Colonel D; Colonel Jacqueline Costello; Lieutenant Colonel Susana Fernandez; Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Grogan; Brigadier Damian Hill AM; Brigadier Nerolie McDonald
Air Force: Group Captain James Blagg; Air Commodore Anthony Jones (retd); Group Captain Darrell May; Wing Commander Lachlan Melville; Wing Commander Jamie Minor; Wing Commander Benjamin Sawley; Flight Lieutenant Matthew Thurling; Wing Commander Janine Tillott; Group Captain David Torrington; Squadron Leader James Wheeler
THE BAR TO THE CONSPICUOUS SERVICE MEDAL (CSM)
Navy: Warrant Officer Mark Verhoeven CSM
CONSPICUOUS SERVICE MEDAL (CSM)
Navy: Leading Seaman L; Lieutenant Commander Dean Dvornicich; Petty Officer Mark; Leading Seaman Katherine Lyon; Chief Petty Officer Michael Nowill; Chief Petty Officer Matthew
Army: Corporal L; Craftsman N; Major Drew Burkitt; Major Cameron Dunne; Warrant Officer Class One Susan Gallacher; Warrant Officer Class One Daniel Heller; Warrant Officer Class One Craig Hodge; Captain Natasha Kirkham; Warrant Officer Class Two Andrei Mazourenko; Warrant Officer Class One Lance Peterson; Warrant Officer Class One Shane Smith; Major Katelyn Thorne
Air Force: Warrant Officer Rita Coles; Squadron Leader Luke Georgeson; Flight Sergeant Peter Greentree; Squadron Leader Ryan Milsop; Wing Commander Brad Sheldon; Corporal Simon Tapply
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says:“Finally, in 2023 she became the first-ever female Group Captain in the Air Force.” WRONG! One of a few female test pilots in the ADF but far from the first female Group Captain. Our current female AVM’s and Air Commodores didn’t get there by skipping a rank.