| Major General His Excellency Duncan Edward Lewis AO DSC CSC | |
|---|---|
| |
| Duncan Lewis in 2001 | |
| Australian Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, European Union and NATO | |
In office 18 October 2012 – Incumbent | |
| Preceded by | Dr Brendan Nelson |
| Secretary of the Department of Defence | |
In office 2011 – 18 October 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Dr Ian Watt |
| Succeeded by | Dennis Richardson |
| 1st National Security Advisor | |
In office 2008–2011 | |
| Preceded by | New Creation |
| Succeeded by | Dr Margot McCarthy |
| Personal details | |
| Profession | Military |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Australia
|
| Service/branch | Australian Army |
| Years of service | 1975–2005 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Commands | Special Operations Command Sector West UNTAET Special Air Service Regiment |
| Battles/wars | 1982 Lebanon War (UNTSO) UNTAET International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) |
| Awards | Officer of the Order of Australia Distinguished Service Cross Conspicuous Service Cross |
Major General Duncan Edward Lewis AO, DSC, CSC (born 1953) is the current Australian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. He is a retired Australian Army officer, and formerly Special Operations Commander Australia (2002–2004), National Security Advisor, and Secretary of the Department of Defence.
Military career[]
Duncan Lewis graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1975. Following graduation, he was assigned to the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of New South Wales and a Graduate Diploma in Defence Studies and Management from Deakin University. He attended the British Army Staff College, Camberley and the U.S. Army War College.[1]
Lewis in 2001.
During his career, Lewis served three postings with the Special Air Service Regiment, later commanding the Regiment from1990 to 1992. For this service, Lewis was decorated with the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC).[2]
From 1994 to 1996, Lewis was Australian Army Attache in Jakarta, and during the INTERFET period he was appointed the Australian Defence Force (ADF) spokesman on East Timor.[citation needed]
Lewis was promoted to Brigadier in January 2000 and appointed Commander Sector West UNTAET in East Timor, where he commanded Australian and New Zealand forces. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for his accomplishments with the unit.[3]
Lewis assumed his appointment as Commander Special Forces in January 2001, and was promoted to the rank of Major General on 19 December 2002. In the Australia Day Honours list of 2005, Lewis was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia.[4]
Post-military career[]
Subsequent to his retirement from the Army in 2005, Lewis joined the Australian Public Service and was appointed to the position of First Assistant Secretary of the National Security Division in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. In December 2008 he began serving as National Security Adviser to the Rudd Labor Government.[1] On 5 August 2011 it was announced that he would be appointed the Secretary of the Australian Department of Defence, (SECDEF), effective early September.[5] Lewis was the first former military officer to be appointed to this position.[6]
Diplomatic career[]
On 17 September 2012 it was announced that Lewis had been appointed Australia's ambassador to Belgium, the European Union, Luxembourg and NATO, and would leave the Department of Defence on 10 October.[7] While newspaper reports suggested that Lewis was unhappy with the government's cuts to defence spending,[8] he stated that "notwithstanding media reporting, I have not been forced out of my current position and I am not departing defence for any reason other than to take up this ambassadorial posting at the request of the prime minister".[9]
Honours and awards[]
|
|
 |
Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) | 26 January 2005 |
 |
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) | 11 June 2001 |
 |
Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) | 14 June 1993 |
 |
Australian Active Service Medal | |
 |
Australian Service Medal | |
 |
Defence Force Service Medal with 4 Rosette's | for 35–39 years of service |
 |
Australian Defence Medal | |
 |
United Nations Medal with UNTSO ribbon | For United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation |
 |
United Nations Medal with UNTAET ribbon | For United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor |
Styles[]
- Lieutenant Duncan Lewis
- Captain Duncan Lewis
- Major Duncan Lewis
- Lieutenant Colonel Duncan Lewis
- Colonel Duncan Lewis, CSC
- Brigadier Duncan Lewis, DSC, CSC
- 2002 – 2005: Major General Duncan Lewis, AO, DSC, CSC
- 2006 – 2008: Major General Duncan Lewis, AO, DSC, CSC (Ret'd)
- 2008 – 2011: Major General Duncan Lewis, AO, DSC, CSC, National Security Advisor to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
- 2011 – 2012: Major General Duncan Lewis, AO, DSC, CSC, Secretary of the Department of Defence
- 18 October 2012 – Present: His Excellency Major General Duncan Lewis, AO, DSC, CSC, Australian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, European Union and the Northern Atlantic Treaty Organisation
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (2008) Appointment of National Security Adviser. Retrieved 7 January 2009.
- ↑ It's an Honour - Conspicuous Service Cross, 14 June 1993
- ↑ It's an Honour - Distinguished Service Cross, 11 June 2001
- ↑ It's an Honour - Officer of the Order of Australia, 26 January 2005. Citation: For distinguished service and performance of duty as Commander Special Forces and subsequently as the inaugural Special Operations Commander Australia.
- ↑ Clarissa Thorpe and Penny McLintock (5 August 2011). "PS shake-up as Moran retires". http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-05/ps-shake-up-as-moran-retires/2825660. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
- ↑ Ellery, David (6 August 2011). "Watt takes Defence’s secrets into the top job". http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/national/national/general/watt-takes-defences-secrets-into-the-top-job/2250220.aspx?storypage=0. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
- ↑ "Diplomatic Appointment and Appointment of Secretaries of the Department of Defence and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade". Media release. Prime Minister Julia Gillard. http://www.pm.gov.au/press-office/diplomatic-appointment-and-appointment-secretaries-department-defence-and-department-fo. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
- ↑ Cullen, Simon (17 September 2012). "Defence head given ambassador role". http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-09-17/defence-head-given-ambassador-role/4265808. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
- ↑ Gartrell, Adam (17 September 2012). "Defence boss denies cuts led him to quit". http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/defence-boss-denies-cuts-led-him-to-quit-20120917-260xv.html. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
External links[]
The original article can be found at Duncan Lewis and the edit history here.