Misplaced Pages

Chief of Army
Incumbent Simon Stuart since 2 July 2022
Australian Army
Style	Lieutenant General
Abbreviation	CA
Member of	Australian Defence Force
Reports to	Chief of the Defence Force
Term length	Four years
Formation	29 January 1902
First holder	Major General Sir Edward Hutton
Deputy	Deputy Chief of Army
Website	Official website

The Chief of Army is the most senior appointment in the Australian Army, responsible to both the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) and the Secretary, Department of Defence (SECDEF). The rank associated with the position is lieutenant general (3-star).

Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, the incumbent Chief of Army, has held the post since 2 July 2022.

History

The first Commander of the Australian Army was titled General Officer Commanding, Australian Military Forces, in line with the usual British practice of the time. Experience soon showed that the position concentrated more power than the Ministers for Defence—of whom there were twelve in as many years in 1901–1913—liked. Moreover, the British Army had encountered administrative problems in the Second Boer War which led to the abolition of the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Forces there in 1904, and its replacement by an Army Board.

In 1904, Minister for Defence Anderson Dawson commissioned a report which recommended a similar system for Australia, with a board consisting of four military members, the minister, and a finance member. This was implemented by his successor, James Whiteside McCay. Instead of creating a Chief of the General Staff as per the report, McCay's Military Board consisted of only three military members, the Deputy Adjutant General, the Chief of Ordnance, and the Chief of Intelligence.

The post of Chief of the General Staff was finally created by the new Minister of Defence, George Pearce, in 1909, with Colonel William Bridges becoming the first Chief of the General Staff. The military members of the Military Board then became the Chief of the General Staff, Adjutant General, Chief of Ordnance, and Quartermaster General.

During the Second World War, the threat of invasion led to a reversion to the old system. A Commander in Chief, General Sir Thomas Blamey, was appointed, and the Military Board was suspended, with its powers being transferred to the Commander in Chief. The post of Chief of the General Staff remained, but was now subordinate to the Commander in Chief.

This was successful from a military point of view but the problem of a concentration of power recurred and, after the war ended, the government decided to re-form the Military Board. Blamey was replaced by Lieutenant General Vernon Sturdee in 1945 and the next year the post of Commander in Chief was again abolished, with Sturdee becoming Chief of the General Staff.

The system continued until the reforms of Arthur Tange in 1973. The three services were unified under the Department of Defence. The Military Board was abolished and the Chief of the General Staff became subordinate to the Chief of the Defence Force Staff and the Secretary of Defence. Reflecting this change from a staff to a command role, the post was renamed Chief of Army in 1997.

Appointees

The following table lists all those who have held the post of Chief of Army or its preceding positions. Ranks and honours are as at the completion of their tenure.

No.	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Time in office
General Officer Commanding Australian Military Forces
1		Hutton, EdwardMajor General Sir Edward Hutton KCB, KCMG (1848–1923)	29 January 1902	10 November 1904	1 year, 285 days
2		Finn, HarryMajor General Harry Finn CB, DCM (1852–1924)	11 November 1904	12 January 1905	62 days
Chief of the General Staff
3		Bridges, WilliamColonel William Bridges CMG (1861–1915)	1 January 1909	25 May 1909	144 days
4		Hoad, JohnMajor General Sir John Hoad KCMG (1856–1911)	26 May 1909	30 May 1911	2 years, 4 days
5		Wilson, FrancisLieutenant Colonel Francis Adrian Wilson DSO (1874–1956)	1 June 1911	10 May 1912	344 days
6		Gordon, JosephBrigadier General Joseph Maria Gordon CB (1856–1929)	11 May 1912	31 July 1914	2 years, 81 days
7		Legge, JamesColonel James Gordon Legge CMG (1863–1947)	1 August 1914	23 May 1915	295 days
8		Irving, GodfreyColonel Godfrey Irving CMG (1867–1937)	24 May 1915	31 December 1915	221 days
9		Foster, HubertColonel Hubert Foster (1855–1919)	1 January 1916	30 September 1917	1 year, 272 days
(7)		Legge, JamesMajor General James Gordon Legge CB, CMG (1863–1947)	1 October 1917	31 May 1920	2 years, 243 days
10		White, BrudenellLieutenant General Sir Brudenell White KCMG, KCVO, CB, DSO (1876–1940)	1 June 1920	10 June 1923	3 years, 9 days
11		Chauvel, HarryGeneral Sir Harry Chauvel GCMG, KCB (1865–1945)	11 June 1923	15 April 1930	6 years, 308 days
12		Chauvel, HarryMajor General Walter Coxen CB, CMG, DSO (1870–1949)	16 April 1930	30 September 1931	1 year, 167 days
13		Bruche, JuliusMajor General Sir Julius Bruche KCB, CMG (1873–1961)	1 October 1931	20 April 1935	3 years, 201 days
14		Lavarack, JohnMajor General John Lavarack CB, CMG, DSO (1885–1957)	21 April 1935	12 October 1939	4 years, 174 days
15		Squires, ErnestLieutenant General Ernest Squires CB, DSO, MC (1882–1940)	13 October 1939	26 January 1940	105 days
16		Northcott, JohnMajor General John Northcott CB (1890–1966)	27 January 1940	17 March 1940	50 days
(10)		White, BrudenellGeneral Sir Brudenell White KCB, KCMG, KCVO, DSO (1876–1940)	18 March 1940	13 August 1940	148 days
17		Sturdee, VernonLieutenant General Vernon Sturdee CBE, DSO (1890–1966)	14 August 1940	9 September 1942	2 years, 26 days
(16)		Northcott, JohnLieutenant General John Northcott CB (1890–1966)	10 September 1942	30 November 1945	3 years, 81 days
(17)		Sturdee, VernonLieutenant General Sir Vernon Sturdee KBE, CB, DSO (1890–1966)	1 December 1945	16 April 1950	4 years, 136 days
18		Rowell, SydneyLieutenant General Sir Sydney Rowell KBE, CB (1894–1975)	17 April 1950	15 December 1954	4 years, 242 days
19		Rowell, SydneyLieutenant General Sir Henry Wells KBE, CB, DSO (1898–1973)	16 December 1954	22 March 1958	3 years, 96 days
20		Garrett, RagnarLieutenant General Sir Ragnar Garrett KBE, CB (1900–1977)	23 March 1958	30 June 1960	2 years, 99 days
21		Pollard, RegLieutenant General Sir Reg Pollard KBE, CB, DSO (1903–1978)	1 July 1960	20 January 1963	2 years, 203 days
22		Wilton, JohnLieutenant General Sir John Wilton KBE, CB, DSO (1910–1981)	21 January 1963	18 May 1966	3 years, 117 days
23		Daly, ThomasLieutenant General Sir Thomas Daly KBE, CB, DSO (1913–2004)	19 May 1966	18 May 1971	4 years, 364 days
24		Brogan, MervynLieutenant General Sir Mervyn Brogan KBE, CB (1915–1994)	19 May 1971	19 November 1973	2 years, 184 days
25		Hassett, FrankLieutenant General Frank Hassett AC, CB, CBE, DSO, LVO (1918–2008)	20 November 1973	23 November 1975	2 years, 3 days
26		MacDonald, ArthurLieutenant General Arthur MacDonald CB, OBE (1919–1995)	24 November 1975	20 April 1977	1 year, 147 days
27		MacDonald, ArthurLieutenant General Sir Donald Dunstan KBE, CB (1923–2011)	21 April 1977	14 February 1982	4 years, 304 days
28		Bennett, PhillipLieutenant General Sir Phillip Bennett KBE, AO, DSO (1928–2023)	15 February 1982	12 February 1984	1 year, 362 days
29		Bennett, PhillipLieutenant General Peter Gration AO, OBE (born 1932)	13 February 1984	12 April 1987	3 years, 58 days
30		O'Donnell, LawrenceLieutenant General Lawrence O'Donnell AC (born 1933)	13 April 1987	12 April 1990	2 years, 364 days
31		Coates, JohnLieutenant General John Coates AC, MBE (1932–2018)	13 April 1990	30 April 1992	2 years, 17 days
32		Grey, JohnLieutenant General John Grey AC (born 1939)	1 May 1992	7 July 1995	3 years, 67 days
33		Sanderson, JohnLieutenant General John Sanderson AC (born 1940)	8 July 1995	18 February 1997	1 year, 225 days
Chief of Army
(33)		Sanderson, JohnLieutenant General John Sanderson AC (born 1940)	19 February 1997	23 June 1998	1 year, 124 days
34		Hickling, FrankLieutenant General Frank Hickling AO, CSC (born 1941)	24 June 1998	15 July 2000	2 years, 21 days
35		Cosgrove, PeterLieutenant General Peter Cosgrove AC, MC (born 1947)	16 July 2000	27 June 2002	1 year, 346 days
36		Leahy, PeterLieutenant General Peter Leahy AC (born 1952)	28 June 2002	3 July 2008	6 years, 5 days
37		Gillespie, KenLieutenant General Ken Gillespie AC, DSC, CSM (born 1952)	4 July 2008	24 June 2011	2 years, 355 days
38		Morrison, DavidLieutenant General David Morrison AO (born 1956)	25 June 2011	15 May 2015	3 years, 324 days
39		Campbell, AngusLieutenant General Angus Campbell AO, DSC	16 May 2015	2 July 2018	3 years, 47 days
40		Burr, RickLieutenant General Rick Burr AO, DSC, MVO (born 1964)	2 July 2018	1 July 2022	3 years, 364 days
41		Burr, RickLieutenant General Simon Stuart AO, DSC	2 July 2022	Incumbent	2 years, 171 days

See also

• List of Australian Army generals

References

Citations

1. "Chief of Army: Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, AO, DSC". Our Leaders. Australian Army. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
2. Wood 2006, p. 13
3. Wood 2006, pp. 50–51
4. Wood 2006, pp. xv–xxi
5. Wood 2006, pp. 54–59
6. Wood 2006, p. 66
7. Palazzo 2001, p. 66
8. Palazzo 2001, pp. 221–222
9. Palazzo 2001, pp. 316–318
10. Palazzo 2001, p. 323
11. Beaumont 2001, pp. 75–76

Sources

• Beaumont, Joan (2001), Australian Defence: Sources and Statistics, South Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-554118-9
• Palazzo, Albert (2001), The Australian Army: A History of Its Organisation 1901–2001, South Melbourne: Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-551506-4
• Wood, James (2006), Chiefs of the Australian army: Higher Command of the Australian Military Forces 1901–1914, Loftus, New South Wales: Australian Military History Publications, ISBN 1-876439-40-8

v t e Leadership of the Australian Defence Organisation
(Headquarters: Russell Offices)
Australian Defence Organisation	Governor-General Prime Minister National Security Committee of Cabinet Minister for Defence Minister for Defence Industry Minister for Defence Personnel Secretary of Defence (SECDEF) Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) Senior Positions Senior Personnel
Australian Defence Force	Vice Chief of the Defence Force (VCDF) Chief of Joint Operations (CJOPS) Deputy Chief of Joint Operations (DCJOPS) Chief of Joint Capabilities (CJC) Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI) Chief of Personnel (CP) Chief of Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (CGWEO) Commander Joint Logistics (CJLOG) Surgeon General and Commander Joint Health (CJHLTH) Judge Advocate General (JAG) Commander Australian Defence College Commander Maritime Border Command
Royal Australian Navy	Chief of Navy (CN) Deputy Chief of Navy (DCN) Commander Australian Fleet (COMAUSFLT) Director-General Maritime Operations (DGMAROPS) Commodore Warfare (COMWAR) Warrant Officer of the Navy (WO-N)
Australian Army	Chief of Army (CA) Deputy Chief of Army (DCA) Commander Forces Command (COMD FORCOMD) Commander Aviation Command Special Operations Commander Australia (SOCAUST) Commander of the 1st Division Commander of the 2nd Division Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (RSM-A)
Royal Australian Air Force	Chief of Air Force (CAF) Deputy Chief of Air Force (DCAF) Air Commander Australia (ACAUST) Defence Space Commander Warrant Officer of the Air Force (WOFF-AF)
Department of Defence	Associate Secretary Deputy Secretary Defence People Chief Finance Officer Deputy Secretary for Estate and Infrastructure Deputy Secretary for Strategic Policy and Intelligence Deputy Secretary for Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Chief Defence Scientist Director Defence Intelligence Organisation Director Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation Director-General Australian Signals Directorate Director-General Australian Submarine Agency
Australian Defence Force Military of Australia

v t e Australian Army
Australian Defence Force
Command	Chief of Army (CA) Deputy Chief of Army (DCA) Commander Forces Command (COMD FORCOMD) Special Operations Commander Australia (SOCAUST) Commander 1st Division Commander 2nd Division Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (RSM-A)
Structure	Forces Command 1st Brigade 3rd Brigade 6th Brigade 7th Brigade 9th Brigade 17th Sustainment Brigade 2nd Division 4th Brigade 5th Brigade 8th Brigade 11th Brigade 13th Brigade Special Operations Command Special Forces Group Special Air Service Regiment 1st Commando Regiment 2nd Commando Regiment Special Operations Engineer Regiment Special Operations Logistics Squadron Australian Defence Force School of Special Operations Aviation Command 16th Aviation Brigade Oakey Army Aviation Centre Aviation Units 1st Division (Deployable Joint Force Headquarters) Army Reserve Army Cadets Special Forces Airborne Forces Brigades Directorate of Army Research and Analysis
Installations	Russell Offices Royal Military College, Duntroon Land Warfare Centre Holsworthy Barracks Enoggera/Gallipoli Barracks Army Aviation Centre Campbell Barracks Army Recruit Training Centre Army Logistic Training Centre
Materiel	Weaponry Historical weaponry Aircraft Tanks Armoured vehicles Artillery
Personnel	Officer rank insignia Enlisted rank insignia Uniforms Colours, standards and guidons Australian Army Memorial, Canberra Field marshals Generals
Culture	Rising Sun Slouch Hat Digger Australian military slang Anzac spirit Army newspaper
History	First Australian Imperial Force Australian and New Zealand Army Corps I ANZAC Corps II ANZAC Corps Desert Mounted Corps Australian Corps Second Australian Imperial Force Battle and theatre honours of the Australian Army Australian Army during World War I Australian Army during World War II
Corps and Regiments	Infantry Regular Royal Australian Regiment Special Forces Special Air Service Regiment 1st Commando Regiment 2nd Commando Regiment Reserve Royal Queensland Regiment Royal New South Wales Regiment Royal Victoria Regiment Royal South Australia Regiment Royal Western Australia Regiment Royal Tasmania Regiment Sydney University Regiment Melbourne University Regiment Queensland University Regiment Adelaide Universities Regiment Western Australia University Regiment University of New South Wales Regiment RFSU North-West Mobile Force Pilbara Regiment Far North Queensland Regiment Armour Regular 1st Armoured Regiment 2nd Cavalry Regiment 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment Reserve 12th/16th Hunter River Lancers 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers 4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse 3rd/9th Light Horse 10th Light Horse Regiment Aviation 1st Aviation Regiment 5th Aviation Regiment 6th Aviation Regiment Artillery 1st Regiment 4th Regiment 8th/12th Regiment 9th Regiment 16th Regiment 20th Surveillance and Target Acquisition Regiment Engineers Regular 1st Combat Engineer Regiment 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment 6th Engineer Support Regiment Special Forces Special Operations Engineer Regiment Reserve 5th Engineer Regiment 11th Engineer Regiment 22nd Engineer Regiment Combat support Royal Australian Corps of Signals (1st Signal Regiment, 1st Combat Signal Regiment, 3rd Combat Signal Regiment, 7th Combat Signal Regiment, 7th Signal Regiment, 8th Signal Regiment) Australian Army Intelligence Corps (1st Intelligence Battalion) Combat service support Chaplains Medical Dental Nursing Psychology Transport Ordnance Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Legal Military Police Pay Education Public Relations Catering Band Staff Cadets
Category Commons

• Army chiefs of staff
• Australian Army
• Australian generals
• Leadership of the Australian Defence Force
• Military appointments of Australia
• Chiefs of Army (Australia)