John Grey (general)
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General
John Cedric Grey AC
(born 1 January 1939) was a senior officer in the Australian Army
who served as Chief of the General Staff (1992–1995).
, Grey joined the Australian Army
in 1957. He was posted to the 3rd Cavalry Regiment and, as a Captain, was deployed to Vietnam
for which he was belatedly awarded the Commendation for Distinguished Service
. By 1984 he had been promoted to Colonel
and made Director of Co-ordination at the Department of Defence
.
He became Assistant Chief of Defence Force, Logistics and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1991 for service in that role.
He was appointed Chief of the General Staff in 1992 and made a Companion of the Order of Australia
(AC) in 1995 for outstanding leadership, inspiration and dedication to the Australian Army
during a period of profound restructuring.
; he also became a Non-Executive Director of Tarong Energy
and Chancellor
of James Cook University
. In 2003 he was appointed Chairman of Queensland
's Wet Tropics Management Authority Board.
Lieutenant General (Australia)
Lieutenant general is the second-highest active rank of the Australian Army and was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of lieutenant general. It is also considered a three-star rank....
John Cedric Grey AC
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 1 January 1939) was a senior officer in the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
who served as Chief of the General Staff (1992–1995).
Military career
Educated at Sydney Grammar SchoolSydney Grammar School
Sydney Grammar School is an independent, non-denominational, selective, day school for boys, located in Darlinghurst, Edgecliff and St Ives, all suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
, Grey joined the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
in 1957. He was posted to the 3rd Cavalry Regiment and, as a Captain, was deployed to Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
for which he was belatedly awarded the Commendation for Distinguished Service
Commendation for Distinguished Service
The Commendation for Distinguished Service is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force, it is awarded for the distinguished performance of duties in warlike operations. The Commendation for Distinguished Service was introduced in 1991 and replaced the Imperial...
. By 1984 he had been promoted to Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
and made Director of Co-ordination at the Department of Defence
Department of Defence (Australia)
The Australian Department of Defence is a Federal Government Department. It forms part of the Australian Defence Organisation along with the Australian Defence Force . The Defence mission is to defend Australia and its national interests...
.
He became Assistant Chief of Defence Force, Logistics and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1991 for service in that role.
He was appointed Chief of the General Staff in 1992 and made a Companion of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(AC) in 1995 for outstanding leadership, inspiration and dedication to the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
during a period of profound restructuring.
Retirement
In retirement he established his own consultancy business based in CairnsCairns, Queensland
Cairns is a regional city in Far North Queensland, Australia, founded 1876. The city was named after William Wellington Cairns, then-current Governor of Queensland. It was formed to serve miners heading for the Hodgkinson River goldfield, but experienced a decline when an easier route was...
; he also became a Non-Executive Director of Tarong Energy
Tarong Energy
Tarong Energy is an electricity generation company in Australia. It was fully owned by the Queensland Government, and had a portfolio of generating sites using thermal coal and hydroelectric power in Queensland. Following a review by the Treasurer of Queensland of the state’s electricity sector in...
and Chancellor
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
of James Cook University
James Cook University
James Cook University is a public university based in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. The university has two Australian campuses, located in Townsville and Cairns respectively, and an international campus in Singapore. JCU is the second oldest university in Queensland—proclaimed in 1970—and the...
. In 2003 he was appointed Chairman of Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
's Wet Tropics Management Authority Board.
Honours, awards and qualifications
- Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) 12 June 1995
- Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) 26 January 1991
- Commendation for Distinguished ServiceCommendation for Distinguished ServiceThe Commendation for Distinguished Service is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force, it is awarded for the distinguished performance of duties in warlike operations. The Commendation for Distinguished Service was introduced in 1991 and replaced the Imperial...
3 June 1998 - Fellow of the Australian Institute of ManagementAustralian Institute of ManagementThe Australian Institute of Management is Australia's largest professional body for managers. The sole purpose of AIM is to promote the advancement of education and learning in the field of management and leadership for commerce, industry and government. It is not for profit entity with branches...
(F.A.I.M.) - Graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company DirectorsAustralian Institute of Company DirectorsThe Australian Institute of Company Directors is Australia's leading membership body for directors in Australia and the leading Australian not-for-profit corporate governance organisation....
(G.A.I.D.C.) - National Defence College (India) (N.D.C.(I).)
- Joint Services Staff CollegeJoint Services Staff CollegeJoint Services Staff College may refer to:* Joint Services Staff College , the former name of the "Joint Service Defence College"* Joint Services Staff College , the former name of the "Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies"...
(Australia) (J.S.S.C.)