Warren King steps down as DMO CEO

Earlier today I announced my decision to leave the DMO after 10 years of service, nearly four of those as the CEO.

The timing and the reasons for this decision are entirely mine.

I am very proud to have been a part of the Department of Defence and particularly proud to have been part of and lead the DMO. While there is always room for improvement, the DMO is in my opinion under recognised for what it achieves on behalf of the nation.

The DMO has fewer personnel now than when it was formed in 2005 but in real dollar terms it is undertaking significantly more work. In fact this year we will spend around $52m every working day and in the main do it well. We are undertaking over 180 major projects with an average value of just under half a billion dollars and on average managing each of these projects with a team of just 12 people. An independent review which compared DMO performance to that of industry, national and international, coupled with our own analysis has shown that we perform much better than industry on financial management. Indeed on average DMO projects are executed at about 5% under budget. Let me say that again. On average defence military procurement projects are executed 5% under budget. Our projects deliver more of the intended capability than industry projects and our schedule performance is on par with Industry, although I concede that it is in this area that we need to improve.

Sustainment is an equally important part of our business. On behalf of the three Services we maintain just over $40 billion dollars of equipment representing around 40% of the Government's non financial assets. Overall there are 119 different fleets that are supported by us which include more aircraft than Qantas, more trucks than Lindsay Fox, more ships that the worlds two largest cruise lines combined and we do it on budget.

Our support to operations is our highest priority and I am very thankful for the DMO personnel and contractor staff who have met these requirements on a daily basis over many years. I am equally grateful for the many letters of appreciation we have received from field commanders in recognition of our peoples efforts.

It is never the right time to leave an organisation you love but I am a firm believer that 4 years is about the right time to be at the helm of a large organisation and hence my decision to relinquish the role of CEO now.

As of close of business this Friday, Mr Harry Dunstall will be the Acting CEO and I of course wish Harry all the very best in his endeavours.

I will remain a member of the APS for a period of time and be available to assist the Department and the Government.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the women and men, both uniformed and public servants with whom I have worked in the DMO.  Your job can often seem thankless but I want to assure you that the provision and maintenance of highly capable and safe equipment for the ADF is and will remain one of the highest obligations a nation has to its Defence Force. There will be changes in the future for DMO but whatever these may be please continue with your very best endeavours.

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Earlier today I announced my decision to leave the DMO after 10 years of service, nearly four of those as the CEO.

The timing and the reasons for this decision are entirely mine.

I am very proud to have been a part of the Department of Defence and particularly proud to have been part of and lead the DMO. While there is always room for improvement, the DMO is in my opinion under recognised for what it achieves on behalf of the nation.

The DMO has fewer personnel now than when it was formed in 2005 but in real dollar terms it is undertaking significantly more work. In fact this year we will spend around $52m every working day and in the main do it well. We are undertaking over 180 major projects with an average value of just under half a billion dollars and on average managing each of these projects with a team of just 12 people. An independent review which compared DMO performance to that of industry, national and international, coupled with our own analysis has shown that we perform much better than industry on financial management. Indeed on average DMO projects are executed at about 5% under budget. Let me say that again. On average defence military procurement projects are executed 5% under budget. Our projects deliver more of the intended capability than industry projects and our schedule performance is on par with Industry, although I concede that it is in this area that we need to improve.

Sustainment is an equally important part of our business. On behalf of the three Services we maintain just over $40 billion dollars of equipment representing around 40% of the Government's non financial assets. Overall there are 119 different fleets that are supported by us which include more aircraft than Qantas, more trucks than Lindsay Fox, more ships that the worlds two largest cruise lines combined and we do it on budget.

Our support to operations is our highest priority and I am very thankful for the DMO personnel and contractor staff who have met these requirements on a daily basis over many years. I am equally grateful for the many letters of appreciation we have received from field commanders in recognition of our peoples efforts.

It is never the right time to leave an organisation you love but I am a firm believer that 4 years is about the right time to be at the helm of a large organisation and hence my decision to relinquish the role of CEO now.

As of close of business this Friday, Mr Harry Dunstall will be the Acting CEO and I of course wish Harry all the very best in his endeavours.

I will remain a member of the APS for a period of time and be available to assist the Department and the Government.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the women and men, both uniformed and public servants with whom I have worked in the DMO.  Your job can often seem thankless but I want to assure you that the provision and maintenance of highly capable and safe equipment for the ADF is and will remain one of the highest obligations a nation has to its Defence Force. There will be changes in the future for DMO but whatever these may be please continue with your very best endeavours.

Since I have now spent nearly 50 years in the defence arena I would like to take this opportunity to publically thank my wife Liz and my two sons Sean and Jared and their families for their support and tolerance throughout my career particularly during my long absences during my 20 years in the Navy. They have been lions in their support to me and will be forever grateful to them.