Retirement has brought almost as much attention to Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston as his long and distinguished military career.
The former helicopter pilot rose to become the Chief of the Defence Force before retiring in July after more than four decades of service.
Since then he has taken charge of planning for the ANZAC centenary, won a national Father of the Year award and been named as the ACT's candidate for Australian of the Year.
He will find out on Wednesday if he has won his adopted homeland's top citizenry award.
As a 21-year-old in 1968, Air Chief Marshal Houston emigrated from Scotland, after being deemed too tall to fly jets in the British military.
Two years later he joined the Royal Australian Air Force and became a helicopter pilot, going on to win the Air Force Cross for a difficult sea rescue in 1979.
In the six years he served as defence chief, he oversaw Australia's military operations in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan.
The end of his career was marked by lurid events, including the Australian Defence Force Academy Skype scandal and misbehaviour by sailors on HMAS Success. In dealing with these issues, he exhibited the strength and integrity he was known for throughout his career.
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