Simon Stuart (general)

Lieutenant General Simon Stuart AO DSC
Lieutenant General Stuart in 2024
Allegiance	Australia
Service / branch	Australian Army
Years of service	1987–present
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands	Chief of Army (2022–) Head Land Capability (2020–22) Multinational Force and Observers (2017–19) Combined Team Uruzgan (2012–13) Joint Task Force 631 (2010) 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (2008–10)
Battles / wars	International Force East Timor East Timor (UNTAET) Operation Astute War in Afghanistan Operation Mazurka
Awards	Officer of the Order of Australia Distinguished Service Cross Medal of Merit (Timor-Leste) Bronze Star Medal (United States) 18 May 1811 Medal (Uruguay) Defence Cooperation Medal (Japan) Army Meritorious Service Star, First Class (Indonesia) Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States) Meritorious Service Medal (Singapore)

Lieutenant General Simon Andrew Stuart, AO, DSC 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.

Military career

Stuart joined the Australian Army as a recruit in 1987 and initially served as a signalman, before being accepted for officer training.^[1] Graduating from the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1990,^[2][3] he was commissioned an officer in the Royal Australian Infantry Corps and appointed a platoon commander in the 2nd/4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.^[4] He deployed as part of the International Force East Timor in 1999,^[3] was appointed Officer Commanding B Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment in 2000 and, from October 2001, led his company on a six-month rotation under the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor.^[2][4][5]

Stuart was sent to the United Kingdom in 2002 to attend the Joint Services Command and Staff College. He graduated the following year with a Master of Arts in Defence Studies from King's College London. Stuart had previously attained a bachelor's degree from the University of New England and a Master of Project Management from the University of New South Wales.^[2][3][4] Returning to Australia, he subsequently served as Deputy Director of the Joint Amphibious Capability Implementation Team in Royal Australian Navy Headquarters and was later appointed program manager of the Enhanced Land Force Programme in the Department of Defence.^[3] In 2008, Stuart was made commanding officer of the 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. He relinquished command of the battalion in 2010 and, promoted to colonel, deployed to Timor-Leste as commander Joint Task Force 631 on Operation Astute from February to October that year.^[2][3][4][6] In recognition of his "exceptional service" in this role, Stuart was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours and awarded the Timor-Leste Medal of Merit.^[6][7]

Colonel Simon Stuart in Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan, in 2013

Stuart was made Director Coordination – Army in 2011 and, in October 2012, deployed to Afghanistan as commander Combined Team Uruzgan.^[3][4][8] The command consisted of personnel from Australia, Singapore and the United States and was tasked with, as Stuart described it, enhancing "the Afghan Government's lead on security, governance and development efforts" in Uruzgan Province. Combined Team Uruzgan, in particular, was to "further the independence" of the Afghan government, people and security forces.^[9] Stuart relinquished command to Colonel Wade Stothart in August 2013 and, for his ten months of "distinguished command and leadership" in Afghanistan, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in the 2014 Queen's Birthday Honours.^[8][10] He was also awarded the United States Bronze Star Medal.^[11]

Major General Gus McLachlan (centre) oversees the transfer of command of Combined Team Uruzgan from Stuart (left) to Colonel Wade Stothart (right) at Multinational Base Tarin Kowt on 7 August 2013.

Stuart was posted to the United States in 2014 as a student at the Army War College. Graduating with a Master of Strategy, he returned to Australia in 2015 as Director General Land Mobility Systems Branch.^[2][3][4] In December 2016, the Director General of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO), David M. Satterfield, announced that Stuart had been selected as the peacekeeping force's next Force Commander. Based in the Sinai Peninsula, the MFO had been established in 1981 to supervise the terms of the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel.^[12][13] Stuart assumed command of the MFO from Major General Denis Thompson of Canada on 1 March 2017.^[14] He was the second Australian, after Major General David Ferguson, to serve as Force Commander of the MFO.^[13][15] In the role, Stuart was responsible for more than 1,000 personnel from thirteen countries working to support ongoing security cooperation and resolve disagreements along the Sinai border.^[12][16][17]

After more than two and a half years with the MFO, Stuart relinquished command to Major General Evan Williams of New Zealand on 1 December 2019.^[16][17][18] In recognition of his service in the Sinai, Stuart was presented with the MFO's Distinguished Service for Peace Award "for his achievements in reorganizing the MFO's structure and processes in Sinai, strengthening its crucial relationships with the Treaty Parties, and increasing consultation with regional UN organizations."^[18] Stuart was also awarded the 18 May 1811 Medal from Uruguay,^[19] the General Yamazaki Chief of Staff Commendation Award from Japan for his contribution to the first deployment of Japan Self-Defense Forces personnel to the MFO and,^[20][21] in the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was advanced to Officer of the Order of Australia. The citation for the latter praised Stuart's "distinguished service and exceptional leadership" during his tenure as Force Commander.^[20][22]

Speaking in Hawaii, 2024

Following his return to Australia, Stuart assumed the role of Head Land Capability in January 2020.^[2] In June 2022, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, announced that Stuart would be appointed as the next Chief of Army.^[1] The change of command ceremony took place on 1 July and Stuart officially succeeded Lieutenant General Rick Burr as Chief of Army the following day.^[23][24] In October 2023, he was awarded the Army Meritorious Service Star, First Class by General Agus Subiyanto, Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army.^[25] On 11 March 2024, he was made a Commander of the Legion of Merit by General Randy George for "excellence in military service".^[26]In June, Stuart was presented with the Singaporean Meritorious Service Medal (Military) by Singapore's Minister for Defence, Ng Eng Hen.^[27]

In September 2024, Stuart released "Australian Army Contribution to the National Defence Strategy 2024", indicating that army had moved from being a balanced force, to a force focused on operating in littoral zones to Australia's via land, sea and air; and using long-range fires.^[28][29]

Personal life

Stuart is married to Katy, with whom he has two children.^[3] He is a patron of the Army Drone Racing Team.^[2]

References

Footnotes

1. Marles, Richard (28 June 2022). "ADF Senior Leadership Appointments". Media Releases. Office of the Minister for Defence. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
2. "Head Land Capability: Major General Simon Stuart, AO, DSC". Our Leaders. Australian Army. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
3. "MFO Force Commander: Major General Simon Stuart". Multinational Forces and Observers. Archived from the original on 16 March 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
4. "From the Source: Major General Simon Stuart". Australian Defence Magazine. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
5. Good 2004, p. 25
6. "Colonel Simon Andrew Stuart: Member of the Order of Australia". It's an Honour. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
7. "Operation Astute: Departing Commander of the International Stabilisation Force (ISF), Colonel Simon Stuart, receives a special Order of Merit from the President of East Timor". Defence Images. Department of Defence. 9 October 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
8. "Colonel Simon Andrew Stuart: Distinguished Service Cross". It's an Honour. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
9. Hetherington, Andrew (27 September 2012). "Taking Over the Lead". Army News. p. 17. Archived from the original on 8 January 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
10. Doran, Mark (29 August 2013). "Transfer of Authority at 'Fort' Tarin Kot". Army News. p. 13. Archived from the original on 8 January 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
11. "Operation Slipper: Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Noll, Deputy Commander Combined Team Uruzgan, presents Colonel Simon Stuart with a United States Bronze Star Medal". Defence Images. Department of Defence. 7 August 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
12. Jeffay, Nathan (8 December 2016). "Aussie to Head Up Sinai Peacekeeping Force". The Australian Jewish News. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
13. Hartigan, Brian (3 December 2016). "Major General Simon Stuart to Lead MFO". Contact. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
14. "MFO Force Commander Change of Command". Multinational Force and Observers. 1 March 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
15. "Australian to Lead Sinai Force". Army News. 15 December 2016. p. 15. Archived from the original on 8 January 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
16. "Australia Completes Command of Peacekeeping Force". Defence Connect. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
17. "Changing Command in Egypt". Defence News. Department of Defence. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
18. "MFO Change of Command". Multinational Force and Observers. 3 December 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
19. @EjercitoUy (27 November 2018). "Comandante en Jefe del Ejército condecora al Mayor General Simon Stuart" (Tweet). Retrieved 17 August 2020 – via Twitter.
20. "Chief of Staff Commendation Award Presented to Major General Simon Stuart". Embassy of Japan in Australia. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
21. "Australian Senior Army Officer Honoured by Japanese Ambassador in Australia". Australian Embassy, Tokyo. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
22. "Queen's Birthday 2020 Honours List" (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 8 June 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
23. "Chief of Army Handover Parade". Defence Images. Department of Defence. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
24. "Chief of Army: Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, AO, DSC". Our Leaders. Australian Army. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
25. "Army Meritorious Service Star - 1st Class". X. Official Defence Alumni Association Indonesia - Australia. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
26. "Australia and United Kingdom, AFHAC & AFHWC, Mar. 11, 2024 [Image 10 of 36]". DVIDS. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
27. "Australian Chief of Army Receives Prestigious Military Award". InDiplomacy. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
28. Chief of Army (2024). "Australian Army Contribution to the National Defence Strategy 2024".
29. Pittaway, Nigel (11 September 2024). "Army's continual adaption mindeset". The Australian.

Bibliography

• Good, Dave, ed. (2004). Back to the Border: 2nd Battalion Group in East Timor. Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 9781741140088.

Military offices
Preceded by Lieutenant General Rick Burr	Chief of Army 2022–present	Incumbent
Preceded by Major General Kathryn Toohey	Head Land Capability 2020–2022	Succeeded by Major General Jeremy King
Preceded by Major General Denis Thompson	Force Commander, Multinational Force and Observers 2017–2019	Succeeded by Major General Evan Williams