David Mitchell is a former senior official of the Australian Government where for 27 years he was responsible for managing government and industry reform policies, programs and projects, aimed at enhancing Australian industry capability and international competitiveness, including meeting the future sovereign operational requirements of the Australian Defence Force..He played a leading role in the development and implementation of several recommendations of the Australian Government’s Aerospace Industry Action Agenda, being instrumental in Australia joining the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) F-35 Program and bringing forward of the AIR 6000 decision to purchase the F-35 JSF aircraft. As the first Director, F-35 JSF Industry Team in the Australia’s Department of Industry’s Aerospace & Defence Industries Branch and Department of Defence’s (DoD) New Air Combat Capability Branch, Mr Mitchell was responsible for managing the capabilities of more than 200 Australian firms and Industry Capability Teams, aimed at meeting the airframe, airborne avionics, ISR/EW systems and training requirements of the F-35 program and the RAAF. During 2003-2004 David played a key role in securing the first 27 contracts on the F-35 project for Australian industry.Subsequently, he developed and managed the Australian Government’s Unmanned Technologies Australia - UAV Development Project, which stimulated Australia’s aerospace and defence industry in the development of innovative Unmanned Aerial ISR, EW and Target technologies and capabilities.For the past 17 years as a contracting consultant, David has continued to advise the DoD, DSTG and industry on Airborne Sensor and Unmanned Aerial Systems capabilities, which in turn have influenced the requirements of a number of DoD and Homeland Security projects, as well as public solicitation documents. For his contribution to industry development and project management, Mr Mitchell is the recipient of numerous Government, DoD and Australian and US industry awards, including an Australia Day Medal.In addition, for his four decades of sacrificial volunteer service to the Australian community in conservation and preservation, David is the recipient of a number of New South Wales Government and volunteer agencies awards.