Scotty Palmer is the Director Joint Communications within Joint Capabilities Division of Defence’s Joint Capabilities Group. He is responsible for the remediation and modernisation of Defence’s Communications Security capability and Joint Project 9101, the Enhanced Defence High Frequency Communications System. Scotty graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon and rose to the rank of Colonel prior to entering the Public Service in 2020. In his Army career he experienced service in Bosnia- Herzegovina as part of a British Armoured Battle Group, in East Timor during INTERFET and UNTAET, during ‘The Surge’ in Iraq on the Multi National Force Iraq HQ and on the ISAF Joint Command Headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan. He has also worked in Parliament House as the Defence Advisor to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, and has extensive experience within Defence managing modernisation programs introducing key new capabilities into the ADF. During his Army career Scotty received numerous operational awards including, a US Meritorious Service Medal; three Gold level commendations from Chief of Army, Commander Capability Development Group and a CDF/Secretary award; a 3 Star UN Force Commanders Commendation and Conspicuous Service Medal for leading Governance, Behavioural and Cultural reform.

Commodore Watters joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1994. He assumed his current appointment as Director General Joint C4 within Joint Capabilities Group in October 2022. Commodore Watters has fulfilled a range of Command and staff appointments at tactical and strategic levels. His initial sea postings included HMA Ships Hobart, Brisbane, and subsequently Sydney as the Fighter Controller. As a Principal Warfare Officer he served in HMAS Melbourne, followed by an exchange posting with the Royal Navy in HMS Nottingham. His operational experience includes multiple deployments to the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the Southwest Pacific. Commodore Watters has completed staff postings in Career Management, Force Structure Development and Capability, including Director Surface Combatants within Navy Capability Division. Commodore Watters was Commanding Officer of HMAS Toowoomba 2016-2018. During Command of Toowoomba, the ship was delivered out of the ASMD Upgrade and conducted the RAN Task Group Indo-Pacific Endeavour deployment to Southeast Asia in 2017, and to Southeast Asia and the South Pacific in 2018 before participating in RIMPAC. He was appointed to Command HMAS Adelaide 2020-2022, which included OP FIJI ASSIST 20-1 and OP TONGA ASSIST 22. Commodore Watters has a Master of Arts in Strategy and Policy, a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws.