John Michael Moten is an Australian aeronautical engineer. From 1988 to 1992, he was the Director-General of Security

Director-General of Security

The Director-General of Security is the executive officer of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation , the domestic security agency of Australia...

, the head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation

The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation is Australia's national security service, which is responsible for the protection of the country and its citizens from espionage, sabotage, acts of foreign interference, politically-motivated violence, attacks on the Australian defence system, and...

 (ASIO). He was the son of Brigadier Murray Moten

Murray Moten

Brigadier Murray John Moten, CBE, DSO and bar was a senior officer in the Australian Army during the Second World War.-Early life and First World War:...

, a senior Australian Army officer.

Moten was not a career intelligence officer. He had worked 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...

, where he was Deputy Secretary of the Strategic and Intelligence Section when he accepted the position of ASIO's Director-General. He retired in December 1991, two years into his five-year term. The reasons for his early retirement were never given.