Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston AK, AFC (Ret’d) was awarded the Knight of the Order of Australia in January 2015 for extraordinary and pre-eminent achievement and merit in service to Australia, through distinguished service in the Australian Defence Force, continued commitment to serve the nation in leadership roles, particularly the national responses to the MH370 and MH17 disasters, and in a variety of roles in the community. 

Sir Angus is Chancellor for the University of the Sunshine Coast and Chair of the Defence South Australia Advisory Board, the Victorian Police Corporate Advisory Group, the University of NSW Canberra Advisory Board, the Canberra Symphony Orchestra, and the Supashock Advanced Suspension Advisory Committee. 

He is a Board Member of Virgin Australia, Lowy Institute for International Policy, the Sunshine Coast Mind and Neuroscience Thompson Institute, the Australian Cancer Research Foundation, the Anzac Centenary Public Fund Board, GreaterGood Canberra, and the Victorian Police Executive Command. Sir Angus is also a visiting fellow of the Australian National University National Security College and the South Australian Special Envoy for International Trade and Investment. 

He is also the Ambassador/Patron of numerous charitable organisations. 

In July 2014, Sir Angus was appointed as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to lead Australia’s efforts to help recover, identify and repatriate Australians killed in the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 disaster. Sir Angus also led the Joint Agency Coordination Centre coordinating the Australian Government’s support for the search into missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in 2014. 

In 2012, Sir Angus led the Expert Panel on Asylum Seekers. 

Sir Angus was Chair of the Anzac Centenary Advisory Board from July 2011 until March 2014. The Board provided strategic advice to the Australian Government in relation to the planning and implementation of the Anzac Centenary 2014–2018. 

In July 2011, Sir Angus retired as Chief of the Australian Defence Force after 41 years of service in the military. In the same year, he was named the Australian Father of the Year and in 2012, the ACT Australian of the Year. 

Sir Angus was awarded the Degree of Doctor of the University of South Australia in August 2017, Degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa from ANU in December 2016, Degree of Doctor of the University, honoris causa from UNSW in November 2015, and Degree of Doctor of the University from Griffith University in December 2013. 

Sir Angus is married to Liz and they have three sons and three grandchildren.