Deputy Chief of Army

Last updated

Deputy Chief of Army
Australian Army Emblem.svg
Flag of Deputy Chief of Army (Australia).svg
Incumbent
Chris Smith
since 31 January 2024
Australian Army
Style Major General
AbbreviationDCA
Member of Australian Defence Force
Reports to Chief of Army
Formation1920
First holderBrigadier General Thomas Blamey
Website Official website

The Deputy Chief of Army (DCA) is the second most senior appointment in the Australian Army, responsible to the Chief of Army (CA). The rank associated with the position is major general (2-star).

The current appointee is Major General Chris Smith, who took up the posting on 31 January 2024.

Appointees

The following (incomplete) list chronologically records those who have held the post of Deputy Chief of Army or its preceding positions. Rank and honours are as at the completion of the individual's term.

RankNamePostnominalsTerm beganTerm endedNotes
Deputy Chief of the General Staff
Brigadier General Thomas Blamey CB , CMG , DSO 1 April 192015 November 1923 [1]
Second Chief of the General Staff
Brigadier General Thomas Blamey CB , CMG , DSO 15 November 192331 August 1925 [2] [3]
Colonel William Foster CB , CMG , DSO 1 September 192531 December 1925(Acting) [4]
Brigadier General Charles Brand CB , CMG , DSO 1 January 19261 May 1930 [5] [6]
Deputy Chief of the General Staff
Major General John Northcott CB , MVO 13 October 193931 August 1941 [7] [8]
Major General Sydney Rowell CBE 1 September 1941April 1942 [8]
Major General George Alan Vasey CBE , DSO & Bar April 1942September 1942
Major General Frank Berryman CBE , DSO September 1942January 1944
Major General John Chapman DSO & Bar October 194411 March 1946 [9]
Major General Edward Milford CBE , DSO 11 March 1946May 1946 [9]
Major General Henry Wells CBE , DSO 16 July 19461947 [10]
Major General Ronald Hopkins CBE 1 May 195019 February 1951 [11] [12]
Major General Eric Woodward CBE , DSO 20 February 19511 September 1951 [12] [13]
Major General Edward Sheehan CBE 1 September 195122 December 1952 [13] [14]
Major General Ragnar Garrett CBE 9 February 195315 December 1953 [14] [15]
Major General Lindley Barham CBE December 195329 October 1954 [16]
Major General Hector Edgar CBE 30 October 195422 March 1958 [17] [18] [19]
Major General Ian Murdoch CBE 23 March 195811 December 1960 [18] [19] [20] [21]
Major General Thomas Taylor CBE , LVO , MC 12 December 196024 January 1964 [20] [21] [22] [23]
Major General Frank Hassett CBE , DSO , LVO 25 January 196427 January 1966 [23] [24]
Major General Charles Long CBE 28 January 196617 April 1966(Acting) [25]
Major General Arthur MacDonald OBE 18 April 196627 August 1967 [25] [26]
Major General Robert Hay MBE 27 August 19679 February 1969 [26] [27]
Major General Stuart Clarence Graham DSO , OBE , MC 10 February 19693 May 1972 [27] [28]
Major General Mark Bradbury AO , CBE 24 November 19751977 [29] [30]
Major General Donald Dunstan CB , CBE 197720 April 1977 [30] [31]
Major General John Whitelaw AO , CBE 21 April 19771978 [31]
Major General John Williamson AO , OBE 12 June 197818 February 1979 [32] [33]
Major General Peter Falkland AO 19 February 19791982 [33]
Major General Peter Gration OBE 19831983 [34]
Major General Lawrence O'Donnell 19841985 [34]
Major General Peter Day 19851986 [34]
Major General Gordon Fitzgerald AO 19871990
Major General Michael Jeffery AO , MC 19901991 [34]
Major General John Grey AO 19911992 [34]
Major General Arthur Fittock AO 19921992 [34]
Major General Geoffrey Carter AO November 19921995
Deputy Chief of Army
Major General John Hartley AO 19951998 [34]
Major General Peter Abigail AO 1998May 2000 [34]
Major General Peter Leahy AO May 2000June 2002 [34]
Major General Frank Roberts AO June 2002May 2004
Major General Ian Gordon AO May 2004November 2006 [34]
Major General John Cantwell AO January 2007January 2008 [34]
Major General David Morrison AM January 2008July 2009 [34]
Major General Paul Symon AO July 2009November 2011 [34]
Major General Jeffrey Sengelman DSC , AM , CSC November 20112012 [34]
Major General Angus Campbell DSC , AM 201219 September 2013 [34]
Major General Gus Gilmore AO , DSC 19 September 20134 January 2015 [35]
Major General Rick Burr AO , DSC , MVO 4 January 20153 May 2018 [35]
Major General Jake Ellwood DSC 3 May 201810 December 2018 [36]
Major General Anthony Rawlins DSC , AM 10 December 20182 February 2022 [37]
Major General Natasha Fox AM , CSC 2 February 20225 June 2023 [38]
Major General Cheryl Pearce AM , CSC 5 June 202331 January 2024 [39]
Major General Chris Smith DSC , AM , CSC 31 January 2024Incumbent

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Blamey</span> Australian army general (1884–1951)

Field Marshal Sir Thomas Albert Blamey, was an Australian general of the First and Second World Wars. He is the only Australian to attain the rank of field marshal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Cosgrove</span> Governor-General of Australia from 2014 to 2019

General Sir Peter John Cosgrove, is an Australian retired senior Army officer who served as the 26th governor-general of Australia, in office from 2014 to 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Special Operations Command (Australia)</span> Special operations command of the Australian Army

The Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) is an Australian Defence Force command that was established on 5 May 2003 to unite all of the Australian Army's special forces units and by 2008 was fully operational. Australia's Special Operations Command is of equivalent status to Australia's Fleet, Forces and Air Commands. It is modelled on the equivalent commands in the United States and British military forces, and is led by a major general as Special Operations Commander Australia (SOCAUST).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Northcott</span> Australian general

Lieutenant General Sir John Northcott was an Australian Army general who served as Chief of the General Staff during the Second World War, and commanded the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in the Occupation of Japan. He was the first Australian-born Governor of New South Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Hassett</span> Australian general

General Sir Francis George Hassett, was an Australian general who rose to the position of Chief of the Defence Force Staff, the professional head of the Australian Defence Force, serving in this capacity from November 1975 until April 1977. Hassett joined the Australian Army in 1935 upon gaining entrance into the Royal Military College, Duntroon. Serving with distinction in the early stages of the Second World War, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1942 at the age of 23, and posted as a staff officer for the remainder of the war.

Lieutenant general is the second-highest active rank of the Australian Army. It was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of lieutenant general, and is considered a three-star rank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valston Hancock</span> Royal Australian Air Force chief

Air Marshal Sir Valston Eldridge Hancock, was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He served as Chief of the Air Staff from 1961 to 1965. A graduate of the Royal Military College, Duntroon, Hancock transferred from the Army to the RAAF in 1929 and qualified as a pilot. His administrative training at Duntroon saw him mainly occupy staff posts, including Deputy Director of Operations and Intelligence at RAAF Headquarters from 1931 to 1935, and Director of Works and Buildings from 1937 to 1939. During the early years of World War II, he commanded No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School, and held senior planning and administrative positions. He eventually saw combat in the Aitape–Wewak campaign of the Pacific War during 1945. Flying Bristol Beaufort light bombers, he led first No. 100 Squadron, and later No. 71 Wing. His actions earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reg Pollard (general)</span> Australian Army chief

Lieutenant General Sir Reginald George Pollard, was a senior commander in the Australian Army. He served as Chief of the General Staff from 1960 to 1963.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Wells (general)</span> Australian Army officer (1898–1973)

Lieutenant General Sir Henry Wells, was a senior officer in the Australian Army. Serving as Chief of the General Staff from 1954 to 1958, Wells' career culminated with his appointment as the first Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, a position marking him as the professional head of the Australian Military. He served in this capacity from March 1958 until March 1959, when he retired from the army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mervyn Brogan</span> Australian general

Lieutenant General Sir Mervyn Francis Brogan, was a senior officer in the Australian Army who served as Chief of the General Staff from 1971 to 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ragnar Garrett</span> Australian general

Lieutenant General Sir Alwyn Ragnar Garrett, KBE, CB was a senior commander in the Australian Army. He served as Chief of the General Staff (CGS) from 1958 to 1960.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gus Gilmore</span> Australian general

Major General Peter Warwick "Gus" Gilmore, is a retired senior officer of the Australian Army. A graduate of the Royal Military College, Duntroon, he was commissioned into the Royal Australian Infantry Corps in 1983 and spent much of his career in special forces. He commanded the Special Air Service Regiment (2001–02), led the first contingent of the Australian Special Operations Task Group in Afghanistan (2001–02), was responsible for the Coalition Advisory Support Team in Iraq (2005–06), and commanded International Security Assistance Force Special Operations Forces (2009–10). Following promotion to major general he held a succession of senior appointments, including Special Operations Commander Australia (2011–13), Deputy Chief of Army (2013–15), and Commander Forces Command (2015–16). His final appointment was as Head Military Strategic Commitments Division from 2016 to 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel McDaniel</span> Australian Army officer

Major General Daniel Francis McDaniel, is a retired senior officer of the Australian Army. He served as the acting Special Operations Commander Australia from September 2013 to December 2014, after Major General Gus Gilmore was reassigned. He was seconded to the United States Army Pacific as Deputy Commanding General – North from January 2019 to January 2022.

Lieutenant General Hector Geoffrey Edgar, was a senior officer in the Australian Army. He graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1923, and occupied a series of staff positions prior to and during the Second World War. Involved in the planning for the Long Range Weapons Establishment in the late 1940s, he served as Deputy Chief of the General Staff (1954–58), General Officer Commanding (GOC) Southern Command (1958–60), and GOC Eastern Command (1960–63).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Noble</span> Major General in the Australian Army

Major General Roger John Noble, is a retired senior Australian Army officer and diplomat. He joined the army via the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1984 and was commissioned into the Royal Australian Armoured Corps. He commanded the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, Al Muthanna Task Group (2005) and the 3rd Brigade (2013–15), and deployed six times on operations to East Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq. He was seconded to the United States Army in 2016 and served as Deputy Coalition Land Force Commander, Iraq, as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, and subsequently as Deputy Commanding General – North in the United States Army Pacific (2017–19). He retired from the Australian Army in 2021 and served as Australian Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism from February 2021 to February 2023, before joining Laing O'Rourke as General Manager – Defence.

Major General Jeffery John Sengelman, is a retired senior officer of the Australian Army. He joined the army via the Officer Cadet School, Portsea in 1980, was commissioned into the Royal Australian Infantry Corps and spent much of his military career in special forces. He commanded the 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Commando) (2000–01) and the 6th Brigade (2010–11), deployed on operations to East Timor and Iraq, and served as Commander Forces Command in 2011, Deputy Chief of Army from 2011 to 2012, Head of Modernisation and Strategic Planning – Army from 2012 to 2014, and Special Operations Commander Australia from 2014 until his retirement in 2017.

Major General John Curtis Hartley, is an Australian defence and intelligence strategist and a retired officer of the Australian Army. He joined the army via the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1962, was commissioned into the Royal Australian Infantry Corps and spent much of his career in military intelligence. He twice deployed on operations during the Vietnam War, during which he was Mentioned in Despatches on two occasions and seriously wounded, and commanded the Albury–Wodonga Military Area and the Army Apprentices' School (1984–87). He served as General Officer Commanding Training Command (1991–92), Director of the Defence Intelligence Organisation (1992–95), Deputy Chief of Army (1995–98), and Land Commander Australia (1998–00). Since his retirement from the army in 2000, Hartley has been involved in community and veterans' organisations and is an active contributor to discussion on defence and strategic issues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jake Ellwood</span> Australian Army officer

Major General Justin Frederick Ellwood,, commonly known as Jake Ellwood, is a retired senior officer of the Australian Army. He joined the army via the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1989 and was commissioned into the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. He commanded the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (2006–08), Overwatch Battle Group (West) (2007), Battle Group Tiger (2008) and the Combat Training Centre, and deployed on operations to Kosovo, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan. He served as Deputy Chief of Army from May to December 2018, and commanded the 1st Division from December 2018 to November 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon Stuart (general)</span> Australian army general

Lieutenant General Simon Andrew Stuart, is a senior officer of the Australian Army who has served as the Chief of Army since July 2022. He was commissioned into the Royal Australian Infantry Corps from the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1990. He has commanded the 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (2008–10), Joint Task Force 631 (2010) and Combined Team Uruzgan (2012–13), and deployed to East Timor as part of Operations Warden, Tanager and Astute and to Afghanistan and the Sinai Peninsula. He was Force Commander, Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai from 2017 to 2019, and Head Land Capability from 2020 to 2022. He succeeded Lieutenant General Rick Burr as Chief of Army on 2 July 2022.

References

  1. ↑ "Head-Quarters". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 1 April 1920. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  2. ↑ "Australian Military Forces". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 22 November 1923. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  3. ↑ "Australian Military Forces". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 10 September 1925. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  4. ↑ "Staff Corps". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 1 October 1925. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  5. ↑ "Commands and Staffs". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 1 October 1925. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  6. ↑ "Australian Military Forces". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 22 May 1930. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  7. ↑ "Australian Military Forces". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 12 October 1939. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  8. 1 2 "Permanent Military Forces". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 21 August 1941. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  9. 1 2 "Australian Military Forces". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 21 March 1946. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  10. ↑ "Australian Military Forces". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 19 September 1946. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  11. ↑ "Australian Military Forces". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 25 May 1950. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  12. 1 2 "General List". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 1 March 1951. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  13. 1 2 "Australian Military Forces". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 16 August 1951. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  14. 1 2 "Australian Military Forces". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 5 March 1953. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  15. ↑ "Australian Military Forces". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 19 November 1953. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  16. ↑ "Australian Military Forces". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 26 August 1954. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  17. ↑ "General Officer Commanding – Eastern Command". Western Herald . 18 October 1963. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  18. 1 2 "New Southern Command Chief". Canberra Times . 24 January 1958. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  19. 1 2 "Australian Military Forces". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 30 January 1958. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  20. 1 2 "General Staff Deputy Chief Appointed". Canberra Times. 23 June 1960. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  21. 1 2 "Australian Military Forces". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 23 June 1960. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  22. ↑ "Reshuffle of Army Commands". Canberra Times. 2 August 1963. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  23. 1 2 "Australian Military Forces". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 8 August 1963. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  24. ↑ "Australian Military Forces". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 13 January 1966. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  25. 1 2 "Australian Military Forces". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 6 April 1966. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  26. 1 2 "Australian Regular Army". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 31 August 1967. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  27. 1 2 "Australian Regular Army". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 7 November 1968. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  28. ↑ "Australian Regular Army". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 4 May 1972. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  29. ↑ "Australian Regular Army". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 21 October 1975. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  30. 1 2 "Brigadier Morrison to Command RMC". Canberra Times. 19 October 1976. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  31. 1 2 "Defence Act 1903". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 19 April 1977. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  32. ↑ "Australian Army". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 8 August 1978. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  33. 1 2 "Australian Army". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 5 June 1979. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  34. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Singh, Shivani (2014). Who's Who in Australia 2014. Melbourne, Australia: Crown Content. ISBN   1-74095-172-7.
  35. 1 2 "Deputy Chief of Army". Leaders. Australian Army. Archived from the original on 8 February 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  36. ↑ "Deputy Chief of Army: Major General Justin 'Jake' Ellwood, DSC". Leaders. Australian Army. Archived from the original on 20 May 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  37. ↑ "Deputy Chief of Army: Major General Anthony Rawlins, DSC". Leaders. Australian Army. Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  38. ↑ "Deputy Chief of Army: Major General Natasha Fox AM, CSC". Leaders. Australian Army. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  39. ↑ Pearce, Cheryl [@DepChiefAusArmy] (9 June 2023). "On 5 June I assumed the role of Deputy Chief of the Australian Army" (Tweet). Retrieved 10 June 2023– via Twitter.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.