Ken Gillespie

Last updated

Kenneth James Gillespie
Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie, AC, DSC, CSM (Ret'd) at the Centenary of the Kangaroo March launch.jpg
Ken Gillespie in December 2013
Born (1952-06-28) 28 June 1952 (age 71)
Brisbane, Queensland
AllegianceAustralia
Service/branch Australian Army
Years of service1968–2011
Rank Lieutenant General
Commands held Chief of Army (2008–11)
Vice Chief of the Defence Force (2005–08)
Land Commander Australia (2004–05)
Commander Australian Contingent, Operation Slipper (2001–02)
Commander West Sector, Operation Tanager (2000–01)
Battles/wars Namibia
East Timor
War in Afghanistan
Awards Companion of the Order of Australia
Distinguished Service Cross
Conspicuous Service Medal
Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States)
Meritorious Service Medal (Singapore)

Lieutenant General Kenneth James Gillespie AC , DSC , CSM (born 28 June 1952) is a retired senior officer in the Australian Army. Gillespie served as Vice Chief of the Defence Force from 2005 until 2008, then Chief of Army from 2008 until his retirement in June 2011.

Contents

Military career

Gillespie was educated at Inala State High School in Brisbane and enlisted in the Australian Army in 1968 as an apprentice bricklayer. [1] He graduated from the Officer Cadet School, Portsea, in 1972, gaining a commission in the corps of the Royal Australian Engineers. [1]

Gillespie held a range of regimental and staff appointments including Instructor at the School of Military Engineering and at the 1st Recruit Training Battalion. [1] He then held regimental appointments as a junior officer in 2nd Field Engineer Regiment, 5th Field Engineer Regiment, 2nd/3rd Field Engineer Regiment and 1st Construction Regiment, after which he became a Senior Instructor at the School of Military Engineering. [1]

Gellespie attended the Australian Army Command and Staff College, Queenscliff in 1985 and became Australian Exchange Instructor at the Royal School of Military Engineering in the United Kingdom in 1986. [1] In 1989 he raised and then deployed as the second in command and operations officer, the 2nd Australian Contingent to the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) in Namibia. [2]

In 1990, Gillespie became Standing Chairman of the Quadripartite Working Group for the Engineers in the ABCA Armies Agreement and in 1991 he attended the UK Joint Services Command and Staff College where he earned a Graduate Diploma in Strategic Studies. [1] In 1992 he held a senior staff appointment at the Directorate of Engineers — Army. He was appointed a Member of the Royal College of Defence Studies in the United Kingdom in 1998 and was selected to be Senior National Officer for Australia in the ABCA Program in 1999. [1]

Gillespie's senior officer appointments included becoming inaugural Commanding Officer of the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment, Staff Officer Operations to the Chief of the Defence Force, inaugural commander of the Australian Theatre Joint Intelligence Centre, for which he was made a Member of the Order of Australia, [3] and inaugural Principal Staff Officer — Intelligence, Headquarters Australian Theatre. [1]

He was promoted to brigadier in January 1999. In this rank he was the Chief of Staff Training Command — Army, he commanded the United Nations Sector West multinational brigade in East Timor, [4] and he was the National Commander of Australia's contribution to Operation Slipper. [5]

Gillespie was promoted to major general and made Land Commander Australia in January 2004, and to lieutenant general as Vice Chief of the Defence Force in 2005. [1]

Gillespie assumed his appointment as Chief of Army on 4 July 2008. [6] On 29 April 2010, Gillespie was presented with Singapore's Meritorious Service Medal by the Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, Teo Chee Hean, and Chief of the Singapore Army, Brigadier General Chan Chun Sing. The award came as a result of Gillespie's "leadership and commitment to furthering relationships between the armies" of Australia and Singapore. [7] In August 2010, controversy arose when Gillespie outlawed the wearing of berets on the grounds that they led to an increased risk of skin cancer. The exemption of the special forces from the ban added to the controversy. [8] Gillespie handed over command of the Army to Lieutenant General David Morrison during a ceremony on 24 June 2011, [9] and officially retired from the Australian Defence Force two days later.

Personal life

Gillespie is married to Carmel and they have a student daughter. He has two grown children from a previous marriage. He is well travelled, enjoys most sports (particularly golf), and is a keen reader. [1]

Honours and awards

In February 2018, the then NSW Governor, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC(rtd) promulgated in the NSW Government Gazette, the election of Ken Gillespie as a Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales.

For his service as the Commander Australian Contingent, Operation Slipper, Gillespie was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia in the Military Division in the 2003 Australia Day Honours. [5] On 26 January 2011, Gillespie was promoted to Companion of the Order of Australia (AC). [10]

Gillespie was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in 2002 for "distinguished command and leadership" [4] while Commander Sector West deployed on active service with the United Nations Transitional Administration East Timor during Operation Tanager.

Order of Australia (Military) ribbon.png DSC (Australia) ribbon.png CSM Australia ribbon.png

Australian Active Service Medal ribbon.png Afghanistan Medal (Australia) ribbon.png DFSM with Fed Star.png Australian Defence Medal (Australia) ribbon.png

UNTAG.gif UNTAET.gif Us legion of merit chief commander rib.jpg Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) ribbon.png

Order of Australia (Military) ribbon.png Companion of the Order of Australia (AC)(2011) [10]
Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)(2003) [5]
Member of the Order of Australia (AM)(1998) [3]
DSC (Australia) ribbon.png Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)(2002) [4] [11]
CSM Australia ribbon.png Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM)(1992) [2]
Australian Active Service Medal ribbon.png Australian Active Service Medal with 3 clasps: [12] NAMIBIA, EAST TIMOR, and ICAT
Afghanistan Medal (Australia) ribbon.png Afghanistan Medal [12]
DFSM with Fed Star.png Defence Force Service Medal with Federation Star(40–44 years of service) [12]
Australian Defence Medal (Australia) ribbon.png Australian Defence Medal [12]
UNTAG.gif UNTAG (United Nations Transition Assistance Group)Namibia 1989–90 [13] (1992) [12]
UNTAET.gif UNTAET (United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor) [14] [12]
Us legion of merit chief commander rib.jpg Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States)2009[ citation needed ]
Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) ribbon.png Meritorious Service Medal (Military) (Singapore)2010 [7]

Related Research Articles

Lieutenant General John Murray Sanderson, is a retired senior Australian Army officer and vice-regal representative. He served as Force Commander of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia from 1992 to 1993, Chief of Army from 1995 to 1998, and was the 29th Governor of Western Australia from 2000 to 2005.

<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 Michael Simon Hindmarsh is an Australian military officer, who holds a senior position within the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, commanding its elite force known as the Presidential Guard. A retired senior officer of the Australian Army, he spent over 30 years with the Australian Defence Force, during which time he served as Special Operations Commander Australia from 2004 to 2008, and as Commander of Joint Task Force 633 in the Middle East Area of Operations from March 2008 to January 2009. He retired from the Australian Army in mid-2009, and joined the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces as a special advisor and later, a commander of the UAE Presidential Guard, which is a UAE Armed Forces formation that includes both conventional and special forces units. He is currently the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, for Rabdan Academy..

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim McOwan</span> Australian Army officer

Major General Timothy Joseph McOwan, is a retired senior officer of the Australian Army. He served as Special Operations Commander Australia from February 2008 until January 2011, and the Australian Defence Attaché and Head Australian Defence Staff in Washington, D.C. He retired from the army in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Binskin</span> Senior Royal Australian Air Force officer

Air Chief Marshal Mark Donald Binskin, is a senior officer in the Royal Australian Air Force Reserve. He served as Chief of Air Force (2008–11), Vice Chief of the Defence Force (2011–14), and Chief of the Defence Force from June 2014 until his retirement in July 2018. In February 2020 he was appointed as a Commissioner and Chairman of the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements. He is the current chair of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Australia.

Rear Admiral Davyd Rhys Thomas, is a retired senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Kelly (general)</span> Australian Army officer

Major General Mark Andrew Kelly, is a former senior officer in the Australian Army. He served as Commander Joint Task Force 633 commanding all Australian Forces in the Middle East Area of Operations and Afghanistan from 12 January 2009 until 14 January 2010, and as Land Commander Australia from July 2005 to December 2008. He was appointed as the Repatriation Commissioner on 1 July 2010 and served in that role until 30 June 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Wilson (general)</span> Senior officer in the Australian Army

Major General Richard Gary Wilson, AO is a retired senior officer of the Australian Army. He served as Director of the Defence Intelligence Organisation from 2009 to 2011, and Chairman of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority in the wake of the 2010–11 Queensland floods.

Lieutenant-General Michael Jeffery CMM CD was the Chief of the Land Staff of the Canadian Forces.

<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">Paul Symon</span> Australian major-general (b.1960)

Major General Paul Bruce Symon, is a retired senior Australian Army officer and public servant. He served as Deputy Chief of Army from 2009 to 2011, Director of the Defence Intelligence Organisation from 2011 to 2014 and, following his retirement from the army, was Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service from 18 December 2017 to 20 February 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian contribution to UNTAG</span> Australian Army contribution to the UN Transition Assistance Group

The Australian Services Contingent was the Australian Army contribution to the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) peacekeeping mission to Namibia in 1989 and 1990. Australia sent two contingents of over 300 engineers each to assist the Special Representative of the Secretary General, Martti Ahtisaari, in overseeing free and fair elections in Namibia for a Constituent Assembly in what was the largest deployment of Australian troops since the Vietnam War.

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

Major General Stuart Lyle Smith, is a retired senior officer of the Australian Army. He commanded the 1st Division from October 2012 until November 2015, when he was appointed Deputy Chief of Joint Operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angus Campbell (general)</span> Australian general

General Angus John Campbell, is a senior officer in the Australian Army, serving as the Chief of the Defence Force since 6 July 2018. He was previously posted as Commander Operation Sovereign Borders from September 2013 until he was appointed Chief of Army in May 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Noonan (admiral)</span>

Vice Admiral Michael Joseph Noonan, is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Navy, who served as Chief of Navy from 6 July 2018 to 6 July 2022. He previously served as Commander Border Protection Command from 2013 to 2015 and Deputy Chief of Navy from 2016 to 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Johnston (admiral)</span> Royal Australian Navy officer

Vice Admiral David Lance Johnston, is a senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy. He served as Deputy Commander Joint Task Force 633 on Operation Slipper in 2010, Commander Border Protection Command from 2011 to 2013 and, following promotion to vice admiral, was posted as Chief of Joint Operations from 2014 until 2018. Johnston was appointed Vice Chief of the Defence Force in July 2018. He will be promoted to admiral and appointed Chief of the Defence Force in July 2024.

Major General Paul David McLachlan, is a retired senior Australian Army officer. He commanded the 1st Division from November 2015 to December 2018.

Major General Jagath Gunawardena, RSP, VSV, USP was a Sri Lankan senior army general. He was the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lankan Army, having served as the Commandant of the Volunteer Force, Commander, Security Forces Headquarters – Wanni and Master General of Ordnance. He served as the Colonel Commandant of the Sri Lanka Engineers.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wade Stothart</span> Australian army officer

Major General Wade Bradley Stothart, 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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Biography: LTGEN Ken Gillespie". Department of Defence, Australian Government. Archived from the original on 9 October 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2008.
  2. 1 2 It's an Honour entry – Conspicuous Service Medal, 8 June 1992
  3. 1 2 It's an Honour entry – Member of the Order of Australia, 8 June 1998
    Citation: For exceptional service to the Australian Army and the Australian Defence Force, particularly in the development of the Australian Theatre Joint Intelligence Centre (ASTJIC).
  4. 1 2 3 It's an Honour entry – Distinguished Service Cross (Australian), 10 June 2002
    Citation: For distinguished command and leadership as the Commander Sector West while deployed on active service with the United Nations Transitional Administration East Timor during Operation TANAGER.
  5. 1 2 3 It's an Honour entry – Officer of the Order of Australia, 26 January 2003
    Citation: For distinguished service to the Australian Defence Force as the Commander Australian Contingent, Operation SLIPPER in the Middle East between October 2001 and March 2002.
  6. New army chief flags shake-up to fight modern war, The Age, 28 August 2008
  7. 1 2 Hetherington, Andrew (10 June 2010). "Chief Awarded Military Honour". Army – The Soldier's Newspaper. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  8. Oakes, Dan (23 September 2010). "Diggers denounce beret ban as attack on morale". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
  9. "Army Celebrates Leadership". Defence Media Release (Press release). Australian Department of Defence. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  10. 1 2 "Gillespie, Kenneth James". Search Australian Honours. Australian Government. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  11. Note that since its inception in 1991, only 35 awards of the Australian Distinguished Service Cross have been made.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Official Portrait — Hi Res". Australian Defence Force. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
  13. UNTAG Medal
  14. UNTAET Medal

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Ken Gillespie at Wikimedia Commons

Military offices
Preceded by
Lieutenant General Peter Leahy
Chief of Army
2008–2011
Succeeded by
Lieutenant General David Morrison
Preceded by
Vice Admiral Russ Shalders
Vice Chief of the Defence Force
2005–2008
Succeeded by
Lieutenant General David Hurley
Preceded by
Major General David Hurley
Land Commander Australia
2004–2005
Succeeded by
Major General Mark Kelly