Lieutenant general (Australia)


 * See lieutenant general for other countries which use this rank

Lieutenant general (abbreviated 'LTGEN' and pronounced 'Lef-tenant General') is the second-highest active rank of the Australian Army and was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of lieutenant general. It is also considered a three-star rank.

The rank of lieutenant general is held by the Chief of Army. The rank is also held when an army officer is the Vice Chief of the Defence Force, the Chief of Joint Operations, or the Chief of Capability Development.

Lieutenant general is a higher rank than major general, but lower than general. Lieutenant general is the equivalent of vice admiral in the Royal Australian Navy and air marshal in the Royal Australian Air Force.

The insignia for a lieutenant general is the crown of St Edward above a crossed sword and baton.

Current Australian lieutenant generals
There are currently three lieutenant generals in the Australian Defence Force:
 * David Morrison – Chief of Army (CA)
 * Ash Power – Chief of Joint Operations (CJOPS)

Deputy Chief of Army Angus Campbell was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general and appointed Commander of Operation Sovereign Borders by the Abbott Government on 19 August 2013.


 * Angus Campbell - Commander Operation Sovereign Borders

Australian Army lieutenant generals
Although not an Australian, Field Marshal William Birdwood, 1st Baron Birdwood, was a popular general with the Australians. He commanded the Australian Imperial Force during the First World War, and when he was promoted to the rank of field marshal in the British Army in 1925, he was awarded the honorary rank of field marshal in the Australian Army.

The first Australian lieutenant general was Sir Harry Chauvel in 1917.

From 1 January 1909 to 18 Feb 1997, the most senior Australian Army position was named Chief of the General Staff. The first Australian to occupy this position was Colonel William Throsby Bridges. The first Australian lieutenant general to occupy this position was Brudenell White, from 1 June 1920. From August 1940, this position, and its successor (Chief of Army), have been held by Australian lieutenant generals.
 * CGS/CA – Chief of the General Staff and Chief of Army

In March 1958, the role of Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee was created, but with no command authority. This was initially occupied by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Wells (March 1958 – March 1959), and was rotated through the three services, hence (briefly) providing a three-star position available to army officers. In 1965 this became a four-star position. It was replaced in February 1976 by a new position, Chief of Defence Force Staff (CDFS), with command authority over the ADF, and in October 1984 the position was renamed Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) to more clearly reflect the role and its authority.
 * Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (1958–1965)

In June 1986, the three-star position Vice Chief of the Defence Force (VCDF) was created. As with CDF, this position rotates between the forces. Lieutenant General (later General) John Baker was the first army officer to occupy the position (October 1992 – April 1995).
 * Vice Chief of the Defence Force (since 1986)

A third three-star position, Chief of Capability Development Group (CCDG), which also rotates between the forces, was created in 2003.
 * Chief of Capability Development Group (since 2003)

In September 2007, a fourth three-star position, Chief of Joint Operations (CJOPS), was created.
 * Chief of Joint Operations (since 2007)

In September 2013, a fifth three-star position, Commander Operation Sovereign Borders (COSB), was created.
 * Commander Operation Sovereign Borders (since 2013)

There are two other three-star positions in the Australian Defence Force, Chief of Navy (CN) and Chief of Air Force (CAF). There are also a number of other three-star-equivalent positions in the Australian Defence Organisation, but these are all held by civilians.
 * Equivalents

List
The following people have held the rank of lieutenant general in the Australian Army: