Australia could soon have its first female Defence Department boss, meaning women would dominate the senior reaches of the defence and foreign affairs portfolios as never before.
Fairfax Media understands that Kathryn Campbell, the head of the Department of Human Services and a brigadier in the Army Reserve, is a hot prospect to replace current Defence boss Dennis Richardson.
![Outgoing Deputy Commander Joint Task Force 633 Brigadier Kathryn Campbell, CSC, left, with incoming Deputy Commander ...](/web/20160917021750im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/i/4/z/7/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gri8xj.png/1474074496970.jpg)
There is a strong view in Canberra that it is time for a female Defence Department head, sources have said. If appointed, she would join Defence Minister Marise Payne, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Frances Adamson.
Ms Campbell sits alongside outgoing senior Defence official Peter Baxter, who led the development of this year's White Paper, and Australian Strategic Policy Institute chief Peter Jennings, as one of the top names on the list.
![Foreign minister Julie Bishop.](/web/20160917021750im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/f/b/7/s/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.gri8xj.png/1474074496970.jpg)
Ms Campbell is seen as a particularly strong candidate because of her experience as a senior Army Reserve officer. Earlier this year, she took unpaid leave from the public service to spend three months as second-in-command of Australia's forces in the Middle East.
She is also regarded as close to Senator Payne, who was previously Human Services Minister.
Ms Campbell commands the Army Reserve 5th Brigade and is the first woman to command a brigade in the Australian Army.
As a brigadier, she is only three ranks away from the most senior Army rank of a full general. She received the Conspicuous Service Cross in 2010 for outstanding achievement as Commanding Officer of the Sydney University Regiment.
![Defence Minister Marise Payne.](/web/20160917021750im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/o/t/u/f/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.gri8xj.png/1474074496970.jpg)
The role of Defence Secretary is equal in rank to the Chief of the Defence Force – currently Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin – under an arrangement known as the diarchy. Power and responsibility is shared between the two roles, both of which are answerable to the Defence Minister.
Mr Baxter has been a deputy secretary in the department but is poised to leave for Germany where his wife, Lynette Wood, is taking over as Australia's Ambassador. Mr Jennings is a former deputy secretary in the department and headed an external advisory panel on the Defence White Paper.
![Foreign Affairs Secretary Frances Adamson.](/web/20160917021750im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/n/g/i/r/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.gri8xj.png/1474074496970.jpg)
Other names that are being canvassed include Immigration Department head Michael Pezzullo, Health Department boss Martin Bowles and Defence associate secretary, Brendan Sargeant, who is effectively the No.2 in the department.
Mr Richardson, who has formed part of the backbone of Australia's national security and foreign affairs establishment for several decades, is not due to retire until late next year.
But there has been speculation that with the White Paper and future submarine programs now locked in, he could leave early.
Mr Richardson has also served as director-general of ASIO, head of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador to Washington – an unprecedented swag of jobs for a senior public servant.