The man at the centre of Operation Sovereign Borders and a major political bun fight over government secrecy will be the next Chief of the Army.

Lieutenant General Angus Campbell will be rewarded by the Abbott Government for taking on the nation’s toughest military job when new defence chiefs are appointed within weeks.

General Campbell was involved in a heated exchange with Labor Defence spokesman Stephen Conroy in the Senate when the opposition head kicker accused him of running a political cover-up over asylum seeker policy.

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Former Navy and Air Force fighter pilot, Air Marshal Mark Binskin, will become the new Chief of the Australian Defence Force in June.

The current Vice-Chief of Defence will replace Army General David Hurley who has been in the top job since July 2011.

Being handed the top army job is regarded as a reward for General Campbell’s work negotiating the difficult task of commanding Operation Sovereign Borders.

That operation is now seen by the Abbott Government as a resounding success despite warnings from General Campbell that it was too early to judge.

It is understood that many senior officers are opposed to General Campbell’s appointment due to the fact that he hung up his uniform for a time to pursue a senior civilian career as the government’s deputy national security adviser.

However he is highly regarded elsewhere in the bureaucracy and within the government.

It is understood that Lieutenant General Morrison will be overlooked for promotion and will retire from the Army.

It is understood that the current deputy army chief Major General Gus Gilmore will be promoted to Lieutenant General to take over operation Sovereign Borders.

Both Campbell and Gilmore are former SAS officers and General Gilmore commanded the elite unit. Major General John Caligari is tipped as the new deputy chief of army.

Navy chief Vice-Admiral Ray Griggs could be moved sideways to become Vice-Chief of Defence.

Despite some serious problems in the senior service such as damaged patrol vessels and unfit landing ships, Admiral Griggs is highly regarded by the government as a progressive thinker and modern communicator who could also remain as head of the navy for another three years.

He is a definite contender for the top job after Air Marshal Binskin, given the navy has not had a CDF since Admiral Chris Barrie in 2002.

Fleet commander Rear Admiral Tim Barrett is strong tip as the next Navy chief.

RAAF boss Air Marshal Geoff Brown is also seen as a modern strategic thinker and he is likely to remain as chief of the Air Force for another term to bed down the nation’s biggest ever defence purchase — the Joint Strike Fighter.

Defence will make its recommendations to the minister Senator David Johnston who will then take his preferred list to Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Cabinet’s National Security Committee for a final decision.

It is understood that the government will make an early decision to avoid the delays caused by Labor in 2011 and the new chiefs should be in place by June.