NEW SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMANDER AUSTRALIA APPOINTED

Minister for Defence, the Hon Joel Fitzgibbon MP, has announced Major General Tim McOwan has been appointed as the next Special Operations Commander Australia (SOCAUST).  Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) provides command and control for the ADF’s domestic and international terrorism response.

“I would like to congratulate Major General McOwan on his promotion and I am confident that he will carry on the excellent work of his predecessors, which was in the finest traditions of the Army,” Minister Fitzgibbon said.

Enlisting into the Army in 1976, Major General McOwan gained his commission from the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1980.  He has had a remarkable career serving in regimental appointments with the 1^st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR) and the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR). His service with 1 RAR included an attachment to the Rifle Company Butterworth in Malaysia and his service with the SAS included a two-year secondment to the headquarters commanding the British SAS and the Special Boat Service.

Major General McOwan has been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for command and leadership during Operation WARDEN and the Conspicuous Service Medal for operational service during Operation MAZURKA.

Major General McOwan has replaced Major General Mike Hindmarsh who has commanded SOCOMD since October 2004. Major General Hindmarsh will shortly be taking up a position as the next commander of all Australian Defence Force units deployed in the Middle East Area of Operations.

“Major General Hindmarsh has provided excellent leadership for SOCOMD during a time of very high operational tempo. In his new role Australian troops will continue to make an ongoing commitment to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Iraq along with a substantial contribution to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan,” Minister Fitzgibbon said.

Media contacts:

Christian Taubenschlag (Joel Fitzgibbon):         02 6277 7800 or 0438 595 567

Defence Media Liaison:                                       02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664

MAJOR GENERAL TIMOTHY JOSEPH McOWAN, DSC, CSM

Australian Army

Special Operations Commander Australia

Tim McOwan enlisted into the Army in 1976 and gained his commission from the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1980.

Major General McOwan served in regimental appointments with the 1^st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR) and the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR). His service with 1 RAR included an attachment to the Rifle Company Butterworth in Malaysia and his service with the SAS included a two-year secondment to the headquarters commanding the British SAS and the Special Boat Service (HQDSAS).

Whilst in SASR he served as a Vehicle Mounted Troop Commander, a Counter Terrorist Troop Commander, an Operations Officer and Adjutant. He also commanded SAS Operations Support Squadron (1990-1991).

In 1992 he attended Army Command and Staff College at Fort Queenscliff following which he served in staff appointments within the Directorate of Operational Support in Army Headquarters. In 1994 he was appointed as Commander Australian Service Contingent Operation MAZURKA with the Multinational Force and Observers, Sinai, Egypt where he served as the Force Assistant Chief of Staff. In 1996 he was posted as the Staff Officer – Plans, Headquarters Special Forces (HQSF) prior to assuming the appointment as the first Chief of Staff in the newly formed Headquarters Special Operations (HQSO).

In 1998 he attended Joint Services Staff College before being deployed to the Arabian Gulf on Operation POLLARD as a member of the US CENTCOM led Coalition Headquarters. Upon return to Australia Major General McOwan served as the Staff Officer Operations (G3) in Army Headquarters.

Major General McOwan assumed command of the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) in January 1999. During his time as Commanding Officer he commanded Joint Task Force 504 during Operation SPITFIRE, the Special Operations Component of INTERFET during Operation WARDEN and Joint Task Force 643 during Operation GOLD, the ADF Counter Terrorism support to the Sydney Olympics.

In 2001 he was appointed the Chief Staff Officer Plans (J5) in Joint Operations Command. In this capacity he was responsible for operational planning for Australia’s commitment to the War On Terror, OP SLIPPER in Afghanistan and OP FALCONER in Iraq as well as numerous other ADF operations. In 2003 Major General McOwan attended the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies.

In 2004 he became the Director Strategy and International Engagement in Army Headquarters before assuming the appointment of Deputy Special Operations Commander, Australia (DSOCAUST). In this appointment he supervised all SOCOMD operational activity and led the lodgement of the Special Operations Task Force into Afghanistan in 2005 (Operation SLIPPER).

In January 2006 he was appointed the Chief of Defence Force Liaison Officer to the Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon, Washington DC. This appointment saw him responsible to the CDF for liaison between the US Defence Force and the Australian Defence Force in the areas of operations, strategic plans and intelligence. He was appointed Special Operations Commander Australia (SOCAUST) in February 2008.

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for command and leadership during Operation WARDEN and the Conspicuous Service Medal for operational service during Operation MAZURKA.

Academic achievements include a Bachelor of Arts (Military Studies), a Graduate Diploma in Management, a Graduate Diploma in Defence Studies, a Masters in Business Administration and a Masters of Arts in Strategic Studies. His interests include mountaineering, fly-fishing, bush walking, reading and most sports. He is married to Dominica and has a daughter, Johannah (20) and son Sam (18).