Lieutenant General Gavan Reynolds named as new Australian Border Force Commissioner

An Afghanistan veteran and defence intelligence chief has been appointed as the new boss of the Border Force.

Australia’s first defence intelligence chief has been appointed as the next Australian Border Force Commissioner.

Lieutenant General Gavan Reynolds was announced as the new border chief by the Home Affairs Minister on Sunday.

“It is a privilege to lead the Australian Border Force and the dedicated people protecting the national asset that is our border,” Lieutenant General Reynolds said in a statement.

Lieutenant General Gavan Reynolds will become the new Australian Border Force Commissioner. Picture: Australian Defence Force

“I look forward to working closely with the Department of Home Affairs and across Government to deliver prosperity, security and unity for Australia.”

The Afghanistan veteran and member of the Order of Australia has held various posts within Defence, including as Australia’s military representative to NATO and the European Union.

Lieutenant General Reynolds became the inaugural Defence Intelligence Group chief in 2020. The shift to his new job comes as a host of Defence and intelligence statutory contracts tick over.

The outgoing Australian Border Force Commissioner, Michael Outram, retires next month.

“The Government thanks Mr Outram for his dedicated service and his outstanding leadership of the ABF,” Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said in a statement.

Australian Border Force staff work at all eight of Australia’s international airports, and 60 international sea ports. The agency was established in 2015.

Mr Burke acquired both the Home Affairs and Immigration portfolios in a cabinet reshuffle in July.

Originally published as Lieutenant General Gavan Reynolds named as new Australian Border Force Commissioner