Speaking at a press conference after the swearing in ceremony on Monday, Negus said research had shown that terrorism was going to remain for a generation and that Australia needed to be vigilant.

"We need to make sure that we take this as seriously as possible - just because something doesn't happen for a year or two years doesn't mean that we can drop our guard in this regard," he said.

Negus said his organisation had learned lessons from the investigation into Indian doctor Mohamed Haneef.

"We took on board the comments after the Haneef affair and we think we've moved forward a long way from there. We are doing a range of different things to ensure that we are on the cutting edge of law enforcement," he said.

"I would like to think ... this is an organisation that will be renowned for very much the right reasons."

A number of reviews about the role of AFP at airports, particularly after the bikie gang bashing death in Sydney in March, have just been completed and Negus said the organisation would be looking forward to make sure all requirements are meet.

"I am very comfortable at the moment that security in airports is sufficient. [But] could there be more people there? Yes there could," he said.

"We're looking forward to making sure that the proposed numbers are certainly there. What we have is an alternate system where the state police would actually require backup if we need it from any particular point."

Describing his leadership style as one of inclusion, Negus said he did not have a mortgage on all the good ideas for the future of the AFP and that he would look to senior management for input.