A senior Royal Australian Air Force officer whose childhood idol was Neil Armstrong will become Australia's first space commander next year.

Air Vice-Marshal Catherine Roberts, who is currently the Head of Air Force Capability, will take over the newly created position of Head of Space Division from January.

The trained engineer, who has served in the RAAF for 35 years, was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross for her work in overseeing the introduction of major aviation capabilities.

Her appointment as the country's inaugural space commander comes just weeks after Air Force Chief Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld revealed planning was well underway for a new military "space command".

"I think we're probably about three or four years behind where I would rather be at the moment, but we're catching up quickly," the chief told the ABC in an interview marking the RAAF's centenary.

The soon-to-be Head of Space Division last year revealed her life-long passion for the final frontier in a video address to the Women in Leadership Digital Summit.

"In 1969, as a three-year-old, I watched on in awe as Lieutenant Armstrong descended the ladder of the lunar lander and uttered the first words ever spoken on the Moon.

"It was an incredible moment for humanity and millions of aspiring engineers that were probably created at that moment — I was no different."

Air Vice-Marshal Roberts' new role was first confirmed by the Chief of Defence, General Angus Campbell, as one of dozens of several senior appointments and promotions made just before Anzac Day.

More than one history-making appointment

From next year, the army will also have its first female Deputy Chief, becoming the first of Australia's armed services to appoint a woman to such a senior role.

Major General Natasha Fox will take up the role from January, in an announcement first made internally to the military just before Anzac Day. 

She has deployed to Lebanon, Syria and Israel, and was the Chief of Staff for Joint Task Force 633 in the Middle East where she received an Order of Australia for her service.

Officer appointed to tackle war crimes fallout

While unveiling a raft of senior appointments and promotions, General Campbell also confirmed Rear Admiral Brett Wolski had already begun working as the head of the Afghanistan Inquiry Response Task Force.

The senior naval officer formally begun his work as head of the taskforce in February, before Peter Dutton was appointed Defence Minister.

Rear Admiral Wolski's taskforce is a small temporary team established within the Australian Defence Force Headquarters. 

Its primary role is to prepare Defence to receive and respond to the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force's inquiry into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.