 Air Chief Marshal Sir Neville Patrick McNamara , KBE , AO , AFC , AE ( 17 April 1923 – 7 May 2014 ) was a senior commander of the Royal Australian Air Force ( RAAF ) . He served as Chief of the Air Staff ( CAS ) , the RAAF 's highest @-@ ranking position , from 1979 until 1982 , and as Chief of the Defence Force Staff ( CDFS ) , Australia 's top military role at the time , from 1982 until 1984 . He was the second RAAF officer to hold the rank of air chief marshal . 
