Air Commodore Peter Thompson was born in Brisbane, before spending his school-aged years in the south-west region of Western Australia. Air Commodore Thompson joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1992 and graduated from ADFA with a Bachelor of Arts in 1994.
On completion of initial pilot training in 1996, Air Commodore Thompson was posted to 35SQN and flew DHC- 4 Caribou aircraft operationally throughout Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
Air Commodore Thompson then posted to the ADF Basic Flying Training School as a Qualified Flying Instructor in 1999 until 2002, when he was posted to Del Rio, Texas to complete an instructional exchange posting. While on
exchange in the United States, Air Commodore Thompson
provided ab-initio instruction on the T-37B and T-6A aircraft.
On return to Australia in 2005, Air Commodore Thompson was posted to Central Flying School where he instructed Flying Instructors Course, and completed three seasons with the Roulette aerobatic team.
Following his time within Air Force Training Group, Air Commodore Thompson was posted 34 Squadron to conduct VIP operations on the BBJ aircraft. On promotion to Squadron Leader in 2008, Air Commodore Thompson completed a ground role with the Directorate of Personnel within Air Force Headquarters. Following this post, Air Commodore Thompson was selected for the position of Executive Officer of 36 Squadron, flying the C-17A Globemaster.
In 2013, Air Commodore Thompson was posted on promotion to the Executive Officer of the Australian Air Component position in the Middle East, and then as the Executive Officer of 86 Wing – in which he remained until he was selected to commence the United States Air Force Air War College in May 2015.
Upon graduating with a Masters in Strategic Studies, he was appointed Commanding Officer of
36 Squadron commencing from December 2016. On completion of his command appointment, Air Commodore Thompson was posted to Military Strategic Commitments as the Deputy Director of Global Operations in December 2018. In December 2019, Air Commodore Thompson was posted on promotion to the Director of Future Military Commitments within Military Strategic Commitments Branch. In February 2020, his role changed to Director of Global, United Nations and Counter Terrorism Commitments within the same branch. In December 2020, he assumed the Director Domestic and Regional Commitments role— still within Military Strategic Commitments. In January 2022, he posted as the Director of Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare within Air Combat Capability Branch of Head of Air Force Capability Division.
On promotion to Air Commodore in October 2022, he commenced the role of Director General Air Combat Capability, where he was responsible to Head of Air Force Capability for the development and delivery of air combat capabilities for the Joint Force.
Air Commodore Thompson is currently the Director General Space Capability at Space and Cyber Capability Division, where he is responsible to the Head of Joint Capabilities for the management of the Space Domain Capability Program, encompassing Space Control, Space Services and Space Domain Awareness lines of effort.
He has over 5000 flying hours spanning seven military platforms.
Air Commodore Thompson is married to Rebekkah and they have two children, Isabella and Zoe. In his spare time, Peter enjoys playing golf.