Alan Beaumont
Encyclopedia
Admiral
Alan Lee Beaumont, AC (24 December 1934 – 21 September 2004) was a senior officer within the Royal Australian Navy
, eventually serving as Chief of the Australian Defence Force
from 1993 until 1995.
. He was educated at Boolaroo Public School and Newcastle Technical High School.
He trained with the Royal Navy
and Royal Australian Navy
before being promoted to Lieutenant
in 1956. He completed a Torpedo Anti-Submarine specialist course with the Royal Navy between 1959 and 1960, and later served periods of exchange service with the Royal Navy and United States Navy
as a specialist in the field.
As a Lieutenant Commander
, Beaumont served as Executive Officer on during a seven-month Vietnam War
tour in 1969. He was promoted to Commander
for his service in this position, and posted as Officer-in-Charge HMAS Watson
.
Beaumont commanded in 1962, between 1972 and 1973, and between 1978 and 1979.
Staff postings in Canberra followed, including Director of Underwater Weapons, Follow-on Destroyer Project Officer, Director of Naval Plans, Director General Naval Plans and Policy and President of Officers Selection Boards. For his service as Director of Naval Plans, Beaumont was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day
Honours list of 1982.
Beaumont was appointed Chief of Staff to the Flag Officer Naval Support Command in January 1987, later being promoted to rear admiral in June and assuming the duties of Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Development). He was appointed to the post of Assistant Chief of the Defence Force (Personnel) on 5 December 1988, and upgraded to an Officer of the Order of Australia in mid 1989.
Promoted to vice admiral
on 11 September 1989, Beaumont assumed the appointment of Vice Chief of the Defence Force
, serving in this position until October 1992. For his distinguished command in this position, Beaumont was upgraded to a Companion of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours List of 1992, becoming the first person to receive three awards in the Order of Australia
.
He was promoted to admiral
on 17 April 1993 and commenced his appointment as Chief of the Defence Force
. Admiral Beaumont retired from the Royal Australian Navy on 6 July 1995.
Alan Lee Beaumont died on the 21 September 2004, after a long battle with cancer. He is survived by his second wife, Justine, and four children from a previous marriage to Noreen, who had widowed him.
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Admiral (Australia)
Admiral is the highest active rank of the Royal Australian Navy and was created as a direct equivalent of the British Navy rank of Admiral. It is a four-star rank. Since World War II, in general, the only time the rank is held is when the Chief of the Defence Force is a Navy officer.Admiral is a...
Alan Lee Beaumont, AC (24 December 1934 – 21 September 2004) was a senior officer within the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
, eventually serving as Chief of the Australian Defence Force
Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)
Chief of the Defence Force is the most senior appointment in the Australian Defence Force . The CDF commands the ADF under the direction of the Minister of Defence, in a coequal arrangement with the Secretary of Defence, the most senior public servant in the Department of Defence.The position is a...
from 1993 until 1995.
Early life
Alan Lee Beaumont was born on 24 December 1934 in Newcastle, New South WalesNewcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
. He was educated at Boolaroo Public School and Newcastle Technical High School.
Military career
Beaumont joined the Royal Australian Naval College in 1948, graduating in 1951.He trained with the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
and Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
before being promoted to Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in 1956. He completed a Torpedo Anti-Submarine specialist course with the Royal Navy between 1959 and 1960, and later served periods of exchange service with the Royal Navy and United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
as a specialist in the field.
As a Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
, Beaumont served as Executive Officer on during a seven-month Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
tour in 1969. He was promoted to Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
for his service in this position, and posted as Officer-in-Charge HMAS Watson
HMAS Watson
HMAS Watson is a Royal Australian Navy base located on Sydney Harbour at South Head, near Watsons Bay, New South Wales. Commissioned in 1945 , the base served as the RAN's radar training school...
.
Beaumont commanded in 1962, between 1972 and 1973, and between 1978 and 1979.
Staff postings in Canberra followed, including Director of Underwater Weapons, Follow-on Destroyer Project Officer, Director of Naval Plans, Director General Naval Plans and Policy and President of Officers Selection Boards. For his service as Director of Naval Plans, Beaumont was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day
Australia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia...
Honours list of 1982.
Beaumont was appointed Chief of Staff to the Flag Officer Naval Support Command in January 1987, later being promoted to rear admiral in June and assuming the duties of Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Development). He was appointed to the post of Assistant Chief of the Defence Force (Personnel) on 5 December 1988, and upgraded to an Officer of the Order of Australia in mid 1989.
Promoted to vice admiral
Vice Admiral (Australia)
Vice admiral is the second-highest active rank of the Royal Australian Navy and was created as a direct equivalent of the British rank of vice admiral. It is a three-star rank...
on 11 September 1989, Beaumont assumed the appointment of Vice Chief of the Defence Force
Vice Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)
The Vice Chief of the Defence Force is the military deputy to the Chief of the Defence Force of Australia, and acts as the CDF in his absence under standing acting arrangements....
, serving in this position until October 1992. For his distinguished command in this position, Beaumont was upgraded to a Companion of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours List of 1992, becoming the first person to receive three awards in 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"...
.
He was promoted to admiral
Admiral (Australia)
Admiral is the highest active rank of the Royal Australian Navy and was created as a direct equivalent of the British Navy rank of Admiral. It is a four-star rank. Since World War II, in general, the only time the rank is held is when the Chief of the Defence Force is a Navy officer.Admiral is a...
on 17 April 1993 and commenced his appointment as Chief of the Defence Force
Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)
Chief of the Defence Force is the most senior appointment in the Australian Defence Force . The CDF commands the ADF under the direction of the Minister of Defence, in a coequal arrangement with the Secretary of Defence, the most senior public servant in the Department of Defence.The position is a...
. Admiral Beaumont retired from the Royal Australian Navy on 6 July 1995.
Later life
Between the years of 2000 and 2003, Beaumont served as President of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of the ACT.Alan Lee Beaumont died on the 21 September 2004, after a long battle with cancer. He is survived by his second wife, Justine, and four children from a previous marriage to Noreen, who had widowed him.
Honours and awards
| |
Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) | (1992) |
| Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) | (1989) | |
| Member of the Order of Australia (AM) | (1982) | |
| |
Vietnam Medal Vietnam Medal The Vietnam Medal was a joint Australian and New Zealand campaign medal awarded for service in the Vietnam War.The medal was jointly developed by Australia and New Zealand, although there were separate Royal authorisation warrants for each country.... |
|
| |
Defence Force Service Medal Defence Force Service Medal The Defence Force Service Medal is an Australian Military award given for long service by permanent members of the Australian Defence Force... with Federation Star (5 clasps) |
(40–44 years service) |
| |
National Medal National Medal National Medal can refer to:* National Medal * National Medal of Arts* National Humanities Medal* National Medal of Science* National Medal of Technology and Innovation... with clasp |
|
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Vietnam Campaign Medal Vietnam Campaign Medal The Vietnam Campaign Medal is a military recognition awarded by the Republic of Vietnam, , to any member of the United States, Australian, New Zealand and allied military forces serving six months or more in support of Republic of Vietnam military operations.Established in 1966, the decoration is... |
External links
- Air Force Newspaper - Funeral for former CDF
- The Multiple Sclerosis Society of the ACT - Announcement of Beaumont's death
- Official photo
