Wade Stothart

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Wade Stothart
Australian Army Col. Wade Stothart, the incoming commander of Combined Team Uruzgan, delivers remarks during a transfer of authority ceremony Aug. 7, 2013, at Multinational Base Tarin Kowt in Uruzgan province 130807-O-MD709-098-AU.jpg
Colonel Wade Stothart at Multinational Base Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan, in 2013
Born1969 (age 53–54) [1]
AllegianceAustralia
Service/branch Australian Army
Years of service1987–present
Rank Major General
Commands heldHead People Capability (2021–)
Combined Team Uruzgan (2013)
ANZAC Battle Group (2008)
3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (2007–09)
Battles/wars NATO intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina
United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor
Operation Astute
War in Afghanistan
War against the Islamic State
Awards Distinguished Service Cross
Member of the Order of Australia
Conspicuous Service Cross
Commendation for Distinguished Service
Officer of the Legion of Merit (United States)
Bronze Star Medal (United States)

Major General Wade Bradley Stothart, DSC , AM , CSC (born 1969) is a senior officer in the Australian Army. He joined the army via the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1987 and was commissioned into the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. He has commanded the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (2007–09), ANZAC Battle Group (2008) and Combined Team Uruzgan (2013), and deployed on operations to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Timor-Leste as part of Operations Tanager and Astute, and to Afghanistan and Kuwait. He was appointed Head People Capability in December 2021.

Contents

Military career

Officer training to Operation Astute

Stothart entered the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) as an Australian Army officer cadet in 1987. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1989. Following additional training at the Royal Military College, Duntroon —where he was classmates with fellow future generals Jake Ellwood, Craig Furini and Kathryn Toohey —Stothart was commissioned into the Royal Australian Infantry Corps in December 1990 and posted to the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR). [2] [3] [4] His early career consisted of a series of regimental and training appointments. [2] [3]

In September 1997, Stothart deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Operation Osier, Australia's contribution to support British operations under the NATO Stabilisation Force. [2] [5] Serving with Multi-National Division (South-West), Stothart was posted to Vitez and made a liaison officer to the 1st Bosnian Corps. His role was, with the aid of a Royal Marines driver and a local interpreter, to liaise with the Bosnian units in his area and with the corps headquarters in Sarajevo. The deployment included moments of tension between Bosnian Croats and the British and Dutch NATO forces with whom Stothart served. In December 1997, for instance, grenades were thrown into a Dutch logistics base in retaliation for the shooting of a Bosnian Croat indicted for war crimes. The incident led to heighten security arrangements in Vitez and a temporary restriction on Stothart's movements between Bosnian units. [6]

Stothart returned to Australia in March 1998 and was subsequently appointed a company commander in the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR). [2] [3] [7] In October 2000, he deployed with the battalion on a six-month rotation under the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor, where 1RAR was responsible for providing security to the East Timorese in an area that stretched some 1500 km2. [8] Shortly following his return to Australia in 2001, Stothart was awarded a Master of Arts degree in International Relations from Deakin University. He then completed the Australian Command and Staff College in 2002, graduating with the Governor-General's Prize and a Master of Management from the University of Canberra. [2] [3]

Stothart was appointed Staff Officer Policy to the Chief of the Defence Force in 2006 and assumed command of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) in December 2007. [2] [3] [9] The following year, he deployed with 3RAR for six months as ANZAC Battle Group – Rotation Four on Operation Astute, part of the International Stabilisation Force in Timor-Leste. [2] [3] Stothart handed over command of the battalion in December 2009, [9] was appointed Military Assistant to the Commander Forces Command in 2010 and, following promotion to colonel, was made Director Officer Career Management – Army in 2011. [2] [3] In the 2013 Australia Day Honours, Stothart was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his "exceptional service" in Timor-Leste, command of 3RAR, and performance with Forces Command and Career Management. [10]

Senior commands: Uruzgan to People Capability

Major General Gus McLachlan (centre) oversees the transfer of command of Combined Team Uruzgan from Colonel Simon Stuart (left) to Colonel Wade Stothart (right) at Multinational Base Tarin Kowt on 7 August 2013. Australian Army Col. Wade Stothart, right, the commander of Combined Team Uruzgan, accepts the unit's flag from Maj. Gen. Gus McLachlan, center, the deputy chief of staff for plans of the International Security 130807-O-MD709-130-AU.jpg
Major General Gus McLachlan (centre) oversees the transfer of command of Combined Team Uruzgan from Colonel Simon Stuart (left) to Colonel Wade Stothart (right) at Multinational Base Tarin Kowt on 7 August 2013.

Stothart was deployed to Afghanistan in July 2013 and assumed command of Combined Team Uruzgan from Colonel Simon Stuart at Multinational Base Tarin Kowt on 7 August. [2] [3] [11] Combined Team Uruzgan consisted of personnel from Australia, Singapore and the United States and was tasked with helping further the independence of the Afghan government, people and security forces in Uruzgan Province. [12] During his tour, Stothart oversaw the withdrawal of coalition forces from Uruzgan and, on 3 December, transferred the responsibility of security for the province to the Afghan National Security Forces. [2] [3] [13] Stothart returned to Australia later that month and, for his "distinguished command and leadership" in Afghanistan, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in the 2015 Australia Day Honours. [14]

Stothart completed the Defence and Strategic Studies Course in 2014, graduating with the Vice Chief of the Defence Force Prize and a Master of Politics and Policy through Deakin University. The following March, he was promoted brigadier and posted to Army Headquarters as Director General Career Management – Army. [2] [3] Stothart was credited with making "significant contributions to the reform and improvement of career management and Army's people capability through his exceptional leadership, professionalism and dedication" during his two and a half years in the role, for which he was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross in the 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours. [15]

In December 2017, Stothart deployed to Kuwait as the Director Joint Plans and Assessment (CJ5) in the headquarters of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve. He was the senior Australian imbedded in the United States-led headquarters, and oversaw the delivery of strategic and operational plans to deny ISIS a chance of resurgence. [2] [3] [16] He returned to Australia at the end of his twelve-month deployment in December 2018 and was appointed Director General of Army People Capability. [2] [16] For his "distinguished performance of duties" in Kuwait, Stothart was awarded a Commendation for Distinguished Service in the 2020 Australia Day Honours. [16]

In order to better support the transition of personnel from military to civilian life, the Australian government established the Joint Transition Authority in October 2020 with Stothart as its inaugural director general. For fourteen months, he worked closely with the Department of Veterans' Affairs and Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation to improve the systems that support the transitional phase. [2] [17] [18] In December 2021, Stothart was promoted to major general and succeeded Major General Natasha Fox as Head People Capability, with oversight for the recruitment, retention and transition of personnel and the workforce structure of the Australian Defence Force. [2] [19]

Personal life

Stothart is married to Group Captain Susan Stothart, a senior officer in the Royal Australian Air Force. [1] [2] [20] They have two sons. [2]

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References

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 "Stothart, Wade Bradley (Major General, b.1969)". Collection: Private Records. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 "About Us: Centre Members and Staff". ADF Financial Services Consumer Centre. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Australian Military Forces Relief Trust Fund (19 August 2019). Australian Military Forces Relief Trust Fund Annual Report 2018–19 (PDF) (Report). Department of Defence. pp. 5–6. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  4. ↑ McFadzen, Karen (September 2019). "An Eclectic Mob: RMC Class December 1990" (PDF). The Duntroon Society Newsletter. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  5. ↑ Horner & Conner 2014 , pp. 374–377
  6. ↑ Horner & Conner 2014 , pp. 377–378
  7. ↑ Horner & Conner 2014 , p. 378
  8. ↑ "1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment: A Brief History" (PDF). p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 September 2009. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  9. 1 2 "3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment Commanding Officers". 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment Association. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  10. ↑ "Colonel Wade Bradley Stothart: Member of the Order of Australia". It's an Honour. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  11. ↑ Doran, Mark (29 August 2013). "Transfer of Authority at 'Fort' Tarin Kot". Army News. p. 13. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  12. ↑ Hetherington, Andrew (27 September 2012). "Taking Over the Lead". Army News. p. 17. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  13. ↑ Doran, Mark (13 March 2014). "Darwin Salutes Returned Soldiers". Army News. p. 3. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  14. ↑ "Colonel Wade Bradley Stothart: Distinguished Service Cross". It's an Honour. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  15. ↑ "The Queen's Birthday Honours 2018: Distinguished and Conspicuous Awards" (PDF). Office of the Governor-General of Australia. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  16. 1 2 3 "Brigadier Wade Bradley Stothart: Commendation for Distinguished Service". It's an Honour. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  17. ↑ "Better Transition Outcomes for Veterans". Media Releases. Office of the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Defence Personnel. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  18. ↑ Joseph, Jacob (26 November 2020). "Experience at the Helm". Army News. p. 26. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  19. ↑ "Leading the Way". Army News. 13 May 2021. p. 2. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  20. ↑ "Group Captain Susan Stothart: Conspicuous Service Cross". It's an Honour. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 28 June 2022.

Bibliography

Military offices
Preceded by
Major General Natasha Fox
Head People Capability
2021–present		Incumbent
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