Lyn McDade

Last updated

Lyn McDade
Born Adelaide, South Australia
AllegianceFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Service/branch Australian Army
Rank Brigadier
Commands heldDirector of Military Prosecutions

Brigadier Lyn McDade is a former senior officer in the Australian Army, who held the position of Director of Military Prosecutions. In 2010 she was the centre of widespread media attention within Australia due to charges against three former members of the Special Operations Task Group deployed to Afghanistan.

Contents

Military career

Lyn McDade has spent 23 years in the Australian Regular Army and Australian Army Reserve.[ when? ] In 2006, while a Lieutenant Colonel, Lyn McDade she was appointed the Director of Military Prosecutions, the Australian Defence Force's highest ranking prosecutor. This office came with the rank of Brigadier and she was initially appointed to the office for a 5-year period. [1]

On 27 September 2010, McDade announced that manslaughter charges were being brought against members of the 1st Commando Regiment for an incident that occurred in Afghanistan during a raid on 12 February 2009. The raid resulted in six deaths and four injuries and was subject to an investigation by the Australian Defence Force Investigative Service. Other charges brought against ADF personnel were; dangerous conduct, failing to comply with a lawful general order and prejudicial conduct. [2] Due to the serious nature of the charges, the first of this magnitude for soldiers of this generation, the Australian media covered this story. The coverage of this story ranged from concerns about disunity within the Army to political commentary from the Prime Minister at the time Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott. [3]

Public career

While an Army Reservist Lyn McDade worked for the Northern Territory government as a Civil and Police Prosecutor, Deputy Coroner and Relieving Magistrate. She has also practiced as a Barrister-at-Law. [1]

Related Research Articles

Royal Australian Air Force Air warfare branch of Australias armed forces

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the principal air and space force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Army. Constitutionally, the Governor-General of Australia, is the de jure Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Defence Force. The Royal Australian Air Force is commanded by the Chief of Air Force (CAF), who is subordinate to the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF). The CAF is also directly responsible to the Minister of Defence, with the Department of Defence administering the ADF and the Air Force.

Australian Defence Force National military force of Australia

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is the military organisation responsible for the defence of the Commonwealth of Australia and its national interests. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and several "tri-service" units. The ADF has a strength of just over 85,000 full-time personnel and active reservists and is supported by the Department of Defence and several other civilian agencies.

Special Air Service Regiment Unit of the Australian Army

The Special Air Service Regiment, officially abbreviated SASR though commonly known as the SAS, is a special forces unit of the Australian Army. Formed in 1957, it was modelled on the British SAS sharing the motto, "Who Dares Wins". The regiment is based at Campbell Barracks, in Swanbourne, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, and is a direct command unit of the Special Operations Command. It has taken part in operations in Borneo, Vietnam, Somalia, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as many other peacekeeping missions. The SASR also provides a counter-terrorist capability, and has been involved in a number of domestic security operations.

Australian contribution to the 2003 invasion of Iraq

Australia joined a US-led coalition in its 2003 Iraq invasion. Declassified documents reveal that the decision to go to war was taken primarily with a view to enhancing its alliance with the United States.

1st Commando Regiment (Australia) Unit of the Australian Army Reserve

The 1st Commando Regiment is an Australian Army Reserve special forces unit, part of Special Operations Command with an integrated structure of regular (full-time) soldiers and reserve (part-time) soldiers, which together with the full-time Australian Army 2nd Commando Regiment, provides the commando capability to Special Operations Command. Raised in 1955 it is the oldest unit within Special Operations Command and in 2008 deployed to Afghanistan to become the first Australian Army Reserve force element on combat operations since World War II.

Military history of Australia during the War in Afghanistan Australian contribution to the war in Afghanistan

The Australian contribution to the war in Afghanistan has been known as Operation Slipper (2001–2014) and Operation Highroad (2015-2021).

David Hicks Australian who trained with Al-Qaeda and was later detained at Guantanamo Bay

David Matthew Hicks is an Australian who attended Al Qaeda's Al Farouq training camp in Afghanistan, and met with Osama Bin Laden during 2001. He was then detained by the United States in Guantanamo Bay detention camp from 2002 until 2007.

No. 4 Squadron RAAF Royal Australian Air Force squadron

No. 4 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron composed of the air force special forces Combat Controllers, aircrew who operate the Pilatus PC-21 aircraft and instructors for the Australian Defence Force Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) course.

Major General Elizabeth Cosson, is the current Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs, and has been a career senior public servant since 2010. Cosson has "vowed" to resign as Secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, on 19 July 2020, if she cannot improve the department’s relationship with veterans stating in a media interview on 19 July 2019 that "if I’m still part of the problem in 12 months I will hand over [the job]."

Special forces of Australia

The special forces of the Australian Defence Force are units of Special Operations Command and associated units of the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force that conduct and or support special operations to advance and protect the national security of the Commonwealth of Australia. The special forces of Australia have a lineage to a variety of units raised in the Second World War such as the Independent and Commando Companies, Z Special Unit, Navy Beach Commandos, and the Coastwatchers. Australian special forces have most recently been deployed to Iraq in Operation Okra as the Special Operations Task Group, as the Special Operations Task Group in Afghanistan, in Afghanistan in support of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service and regularly for counter-terrorism pre-deploy to locations of major domestic events throughout Australia in readiness to support law enforcement such as the 2014 G20 Brisbane summit.

John Baker (general) Australian Army officer (1936–2007)

General John Stuart Baker was a senior Australian Army officer. Entering the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1954, his career culminated with his appointment as Chief of the Defence Force from 1995 to 1998, the most senior position in the Australian Defence Force. Baker also served as the inaugural Director of the Defence Intelligence Organisation from 1990 to 1992, Vice Chief of the Defence Force from 1992 to 1995, and was author of the highly influential 1988 "Baker Report".

Women in the Australian military

Women currently make up 19.2% of the ADF workforce. Women have served in Australian armed forces since 1899. Until World War II women were restricted to the Australian Army Nursing Service. This role expanded in 1941–42 when the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force established female branches in which women took on a range of support roles. While these organisations were disbanded at the end of the war, they were reestablished in 1950 as part of the military's permanent structure. Women were integrated into the services during the late 1970s and early 1980s, but were not allowed to apply for combat roles. In January 2013, serving women were allowed to apply for all positions in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) except special forces which became open to women in January 2014. In January 2016, civilian women became able to direct entry to all positions.

2nd Commando Regiment (Australia) Unit of the Australian Army

The 2nd Commando Regiment is a special forces unit of the Australian Army, and is part of Special Operations Command. The regiment was established on 19 June 2009 when the 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Commando) was renamed. It is based at Holsworthy, New South Wales. The 2nd Commando Regiment often trains and deploys with the Special Air Service Regiment, is highly regarded by coalition special operation forces abroad, and has been involved in operations in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan, where it was used in a direct action warfighting role. It has also been involved in domestic security operations including the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the 2014 G20 Leaders Summit.

Shah Wali Kot Offensive

The Shah Wali Kot Offensive was a five-day joint operation during the War in Afghanistan, conducted by Australian special forces and the Afghan National Army with US air support, between 10–14 June 2010. The operation took place in the Shah Wali Kot District of Kandahar Province, occurring in preparation for the coalition clearance of the province and resulting in heavy insurgent casualties.

Sexual orientation and gender identity in the Australian military

Sexual orientation and gender identity in the Australian military are not considered disqualifying matters in the 21st century, with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) allowing LGBT people to serve openly and access the same entitlements as other personnel. The ban on gay and lesbian personnel was lifted by the Keating Government in 1992, with a 2000 study finding no discernible negative impacts on troop morale. In 2009, the First Rudd Government introduced equal entitlements to military retirement pensions and superannuation for the domestic partners of LGBTI personnel. Since 2010, transgender personnel may serve openly and may undergo gender transition with ADF support while continuing their military service. LGBTI personnel are also supported by the charity DEFGLIS, the Defence Force Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Intersex Information Service.

Boeing C-17 Globemaster III in Australian service History of the C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft used by Australia

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) operates eight Boeing C-17 Globemaster III large transport aircraft. Four C-17s were ordered in mid-2006 to improve the ability of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to operate outside Australia and its region. The aircraft entered service between November 2006 and January 2008, the second pair being delivered ahead of schedule. Two more Globemasters were ordered in 2011, the sixth being delivered to the RAAF in November 2012. Another two C-17s were ordered in October 2014, with the final aircraft being delivered in November 2015. The Globemasters are built to the same specifications as those operated by the United States Air Force (USAF), and the Australian aircraft are maintained through an international contract with Boeing.

Simone Wilkie Retired Australian Army officer

Major General Simone Louise Wilkie, is a retired Australian Army officer who was the Australian Deputy National Commander in the War in Afghanistan in 2011 and 2012. She was Assistant Chief of Staff to General David Petraeus during the Iraq War troop surge of 2007, and was the first female Commanding Officer of the Royal Military College, Duntroon and Commandant at the Army Recruit Training Centre at Kapooka. In March 2013 the Minister for Defence, Stephen Smith, announced her promotion to major general to take over as Commander of the Australian Defence College in July 2013.

Roger Noble Major General in the Australian Army

Major General Roger John Noble, is the Australian Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism and a retired senior officer in the Australian Army. He joined the army via the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1984 and was commissioned into the Royal Australian Armoured Corps. He has 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 and was appointed Australian Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism on 18 February 2021.

The Afghan Files are a set of Australian Defence Force documents about the operation of Australia's special forces in Afghanistan. The documents were leaked to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) by David McBride, upon which seven stories were published. The documents covered a wide range of topics, however most notably it detailed multiple cases of possible unlawful killings of unarmed men and children. In response to the leak, the Australian Federal Police raided the ABC's offices in June 2019, confiscating all material related to the matter.

Brereton Report Australian war crimes investigation and report

The Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force Afghanistan Inquiry Report, commonly known as the Brereton Report, is a report into war crimes allegedly committed by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) during the War in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2016. The investigation was led by Paul Brereton, who is both a New South Wales Supreme Court judge and a major general in the army reserve. The independent commission was initiated by the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force in 2016, and after a long investigation, delivered its final report on 6 November 2020. The redacted version was released publicly on 19 November 2020.

References

  1. 1 2 "NEW ADF APPOINTMENTS TO ENHANCE MILITARY JUSTICE SYSTEM". 5 July 2006. Archived from the original on 15 March 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  2. "Statement by the Director of Military Prosecutions" . Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  3. Sheehan, Paul (18 October 2010). "Our army is at war over the prosecution of commandos". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 October 2010.