David Fawcett was elected as a Senator for South Australia at the 2010 federal election and commenced his term in the Senate on 1 July 2011.
David previously served in the 41st Australian Parliament as the Member for Wakefield (South Australia) from 2004 – 2007. David was Chair of the Government Policy Committee for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, as well as a member of five other policy committees supporting the Ministers responsible for Defence, Agriculture, Health and Ageing, Transport, Education and Training. He was also Chair of a Government Task Force monitoring and evaluating a national policy roll-out by the Attorney General’s Department.
David served for over 22 years in the Australian Defence Force as an Army officer. His full-time service culminated in an appointment as the Commanding Officer of the Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU). He was responsible for the conduct of experimental flight test in support of the RAAF and Army spanning fast jets, heavy aircraft and helicopters; and conducting research activities with the Defence Science and Technology Organization (DSTO).
David has tertiary qualifications in science and business administration, is qualified to fly both aeroplanes and helicopters and has served throughout Australia, in neighbouring countries and in the UK as a regimental pilot, senior flying instructor and experimental test pilot. After his full time service, David remained active as an experimental test pilot through part-time Reserve service with the Defence Force.
David is married to Lorna, and has two daughters. He has travelled widely and lived in Asia, the UK and in other parts of Australia, and has been active in community life.
He has been the patron of a number of sporting bodies, an honorary member of Rotary and a contributing member of professional bodies. He is currently a member of the international Society of Experimental Test Pilots, the Australian Flight Test Society and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.