Born and bred in Perth WA, Alf joined the RAAF in 1978 and graduated from the RAAF Academy four years later with a Science degree and a Graduate Diploma in Military Aviation. Following RAAF Pilot’s Course, Alf’s operational tours included flying the AP-3C Orion, and then 20 years as an Experimental Test Pilot with the RAAF’s Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU). On promotion to Wing Commander, Alf Commanded ARDU for four years. Alf was awarded the D.J. Knight's Award for Flight Test Excellence (‘Test Pilot of the Year’) two years running. A four year posting at the Defence Force Safety Bureau (DFSB) as an Aviation Accident Investigator (AAI) culminating in being the Chief of Staff.

Alf left Defence in early 2016 and joined the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) as the National Manager of Aviation Safety Advisors. Late 2017, Alf moved on to become the Chief Pilot of a medium-sized, Canberra headquartered airline called Corporate-Air. He currently flies the SAAB 340B on Regular Public Transport operations, and the Cessna Conquest in Charter and Aerial work operations.

Alf has flown over 60 different aircraft types (ranging from gliders, a Pitts Special through to the P-51D Mustang, the Seahawk helicopter, F/A-18, F-16, up to the C141 Starlifter), has flown 1.5 times the speed of sound, pulled +9.0G and flown up to 50,000 feet; with over 10,000 flying hours in his Logbook, Alf has been extremely fortunate to have seen the world through aviation.

Alf became a Christian on the night of 29 Aug 1989 in Adelaide. Over the years, Alf has been actively involved in evangelistic outreach, leading homegroups and spoken at numerous churches and venues as God has led him. He is currently a member of Tuggeranong Baptist Church, ACT.

Alf is married to Lori and have five children between them. He is a life member of the International Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP), Vice President of the Australian Society of Air Safety Investigators (ASASI), and in the final stage of completing a Masters in Aviation Management. An avid snow skier, bushwalker and sailor, Alf is also a current black belt instructor in International Taekwondo.

 If you are looking for perfect safety, you will do well to sit on a fence and watch the birds; but if you really wish to learn, you must mount a machine and become acquainted with its tricks by actual trial.’ — Wilbur Wright, from an address to the Western Society of Engineers in Chicago, 18 September 1901