Australia Day Honours: Bringing respect to their uniform

Several Australian defence personnel involved in the sharp end of operations in the Middle East against Islamist terror have been recognised.

Major General Roger Noble. Picture Gary Ramage

Several Australian defence personnel involved in the sharp end of operations in the Middle East against Islamist terror have been recognised.

Among them is Brigadier Ana Duncan, now commandant of the army’s Duntroon officer training college in Canberra, whose performance as director of strategy, plans and assessment in the headquarters of the combined joint taskforce involved in defeating the Islamic State group in 2019 was lauded as exceptional. She has been made a Member in the Military Division of the Order Australia.

Colonel John Simeoni gets the AM for his strong leadership and commitment to duty across a number of senior operational roles in Afghanistan and Iraq. An exceptional officer, he contributed significantly to the mentoring of partners, the waging of conventional war and complex security operations to counter violent extremism.

Heading the military honours, Major General Roger Noble and Air Vice Marshal Leigh Gordon each receive the AO — Officer of the Order of Australia. General Noble’s elevation recognises his work with allies as head of military strategic commitments, deputy chief joint operations and deputy commanding general of the US Army, Pacific.

Air Vice Marshall Gordon’s “superb interpersonal skill and program management expertise” came to the fore in the acquisition and sustainment of advanced aerospace systems, including the RAAF’s cutting-edge F-35 joint strike fighter.

Wing Commander Randall McCutcheon receives the AM, military division, in recognition of his role in development and operational testing of the US-made warplane.

AMs also go to Rear Admiral Robert Plath for enhancing relations with the Indonesian armed forces and his exceptional leadership in the navy’s fleet command; Rear Admiral Katherine Richards, in part for her strong advocacy and delivery of behavioural and cultural change within the navy; Colonel Nicholas Surtees for the reform of military policing; and Major General Murray Thompson for driving ADF network and communications service improvements.

Air Commodore Phillip Champion receives the AM for achieving “superb outcomes” as liaison officer in supreme headquarters, allied powers, in Europe; Group Captain Philip Edwards’s exceptional service significantly advanced understanding of the application of air power; Group Captain Angus Porter distinguished himself in the largest composite air deployment since the Vietnam War; while Warrant Officer Jennine Riches has been a “luminary and staunch advocate” for personnel welfare in the RAAF and ADF.