A commitment to safety and to supporting her colleagues and her squadron has resulted in Corporal Caitlin Russ being named Enlisted Aviator of the Year in the 2025 Air Force Birthday proficiency and leadership awards.
The Enlisted Aviator of the Year award recognises the calibre of an aviator and their significant contribution to both Air Force and the community.
Corporal Russ was blown away by the nomination.
"I have such a supportive team and so I am pleased to support them too. It is a huge honour," Corporal Russ said.
"Improving safety and security outcomes is how we improve capability."
Her primary role is as a life support fitter, but Corporal Russ often finds herself filling a range of roles at an operational squadron. This agility formed part of her nomination.
"Learning new Defence systems and processes has allowed me to understand how and why decisions are made, and how these decisions directly influence maintenance processes and procedures," she said.
"Over the [past] year I have had the opportunity to influence decisions that have shaped safety and security processes within the 11 Squadron maintenance workforce and SRG [Surveillance & Response Group] as a whole. Knowing how and why decisions are made can demystify safety and help people be involved in building a culture to build safety through capability."
Corporal Russ's goal last year was to make understanding safety more accessible to her colleagues.
"I wanted people to feel comfortable in why there were procedures and requirements, as well as how to implement them. If you empower people, they can engage better," Corporal Russ said.
"We are very lucky that 11 Squadron has an amazing safety culture where people feel comfortable in raising issues, concerns or near-misses, and they really do speak up appropriately. Everyone in the squadron will bring forward concerns or issues.
"This comfort and safety culture is a testament to the chain of command in the squadron."
'Air Force has trained me for a role I am passionate about and which has applications outside of Defence too. It has also helped me see Australia and the world.'
This teamwork no doubt contributed to 11 Squadron's receipt of the Duke of Gloucester Cup, as the most proficient flying squadron, at the same awards.
Corporal Russ has excelled as a hazardous chemical safety adviser, ensuring the highest standards of capability, and importantly, mentoring others. She has also been serving as the unit security officer through an uplift and audit process.
She identified the need for hazardous chemical operating instructions and procedures at a new facility at forward operating base (FOB) at RAAF Base Darwin, and collaborated remotely with the facilities manager in Darwin to establish hazardous chemical holdings, accounting and disposal processes for the P-8A and E-7A.
Corporal Russ said that when the FOB became a permanent facility for her squadron as well as 2 Squadron, it became apparent that there was a need for a hazardous safety management system to be established.
"The systems we established together allows every squadron using the facility to understand protocols and risks, even those transiting through," Corporal Russ said.
"I was proud to create a system that is FEG-centred, not just meeting the needs of the squadron. This approach helps build interoperability and will support us to project from northern Australia."
Corporal Ross recently clocked 10 years with Air Force and has no plans to leave.
"Air Force has trained me for a role I am passionate about and which has applications outside of Defence too. It has also helped me see Australia and the world," Corporal Russ said.
"Air Force pushes me to learn more and be better."
