John Patrick Cantwell
Encyclopedia
Major General
John Patrick Cantwell AO is a senior officer within the Australian Army
. Cantwell joined the Australian Army
as a regular soldier in 1974. He attended officer training in 1981, and was commissioned into the Royal Australian Armoured Corps. As a Major
, Cantwell commanded a British tank squadron as an exchange officer with the British in Germany. As a result of that posting he served in Operation Desert Storm with the Coalition forces in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait between 1990–1991.
In August 1996 Cantwell became Commanding Officer and Chief Instructor at the Royal Military College, Duntroon
. In January 1999 he took up an appointment as an instructor at the British Joint Services Command and Staff College
in the United Kingdom, returning to Australia as the Director of the Force Development Group, Land Warfare Development Centre, on promotion to Colonel
in December 2000.
Cantwell was promoted to Brigadier
in January 2003 as Director General of Capability and Plans in Australian Defence Headquarters. Following command of the 1st Brigade (2004–2005), in early 2006 he deployed to Iraq as the Director Strategic Operations, Headquarters Multi National Forces Iraq. While on this deployment he was promoted to Major General
on 4 December 2006, and assumed the appointment as Deputy Chief of Army on 29 January 2007.
In February 2008 Cantwell was selected by the Chief of the Defence Force
to be the senior military member of the team working on a new Defence White Paper 2008 the paramount Australian security and defence policy document, commissioned by the Australian Government. Following the Victorian bushfires disaster on 7 February 2009, Cantwell was attached to the Office of the Premier of Victoria as the Interim Head (and later, Chief of Operations) of the Victorian Bushfires Reconstruction and Recovery Authority responsible for coordinating all Commonwealth, State and non-government efforts to recover from the effects of the fires.
In 2010 he served as Commander of Australian Forces in the Middle East Area of Operations.
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Major General (Australia)
Major General is a senior rank of the Australian Army, and was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of Major General. It is the third-highest active rank of the Australian Army, and is considered to be equivalent to a two-star rank...
John Patrick Cantwell AO is a senior officer within 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...
. Cantwell 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...
as a regular soldier in 1974. He attended officer training in 1981, and was commissioned into the Royal Australian Armoured Corps. As a Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
, Cantwell commanded a British tank squadron as an exchange officer with the British in Germany. As a result of that posting he served in Operation Desert Storm with the Coalition forces in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait between 1990–1991.
In August 1996 Cantwell became Commanding Officer and Chief Instructor at the Royal Military College, Duntroon
Royal Military College, Duntroon
The Royal Military College, Duntroon is the Australian Army's officer training establishment. It was founded at Duntroon, in the Australian Capital Territory, in 1911 and is situated on picturesque grounds at the foot of Mount Pleasant near Lake Burley Griffin, close to the Department of Defence...
. In January 1999 he took up an appointment as an instructor at the British Joint Services Command and Staff College
Joint Services Command and Staff College
Joint Services Command and Staff College is a British military academic establishment providing training and education to experienced officers of the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force, Ministry of Defence Civil Service, and serving officers of other states.-History:JSCSC combined the single...
in the United Kingdom, returning to Australia as the Director of the Force Development Group, Land Warfare Development Centre, on promotion 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...
in December 2000.
Cantwell was promoted to Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
in January 2003 as Director General of Capability and Plans in Australian Defence Headquarters. Following command of the 1st Brigade (2004–2005), in early 2006 he deployed to Iraq as the Director Strategic Operations, Headquarters Multi National Forces Iraq. While on this deployment he was promoted to Major General
Major General (Australia)
Major General is a senior rank of the Australian Army, and was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of Major General. It is the third-highest active rank of the Australian Army, and is considered to be equivalent to a two-star rank...
on 4 December 2006, and assumed the appointment as Deputy Chief of Army on 29 January 2007.
In February 2008 Cantwell was selected by the Chief of the Defence Force
Angus Houston
Air Chief Marshal Allan Grant "Angus" Houston AC, AFC is a retired senior commander of the Royal Australian Air Force and was the Chief of the Defence Force from 4 July 2005 until his retirement on 3 July 2011...
to be the senior military member of the team working on a new Defence White Paper 2008 the paramount Australian security and defence policy document, commissioned by the Australian Government. Following the Victorian bushfires disaster on 7 February 2009, Cantwell was attached to the Office of the Premier of Victoria as the Interim Head (and later, Chief of Operations) of the Victorian Bushfires Reconstruction and Recovery Authority responsible for coordinating all Commonwealth, State and non-government efforts to recover from the effects of the fires.
In 2010 he served as Commander of Australian Forces in the Middle East Area of Operations.
Honours and Awards
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Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) | June 2007 |
| Member of the Order of Australia (AM) | January 1989 | |
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Australian Active Service Medal Australian Active Service Medal The Australian Active Service Medal is an Australian military decoration. It was authorised 13 September 1988 to recognise prescribed service in warlike operations... |
with 3 Clasps KUWAIT, IRAQ 2003 and ICAT |
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Afghanistan Medal Afghanistan Medal (Australia) The Afghanistan Medal was instituted by Queen Elizabeth II on the advice of the Australian Prime Minister John Howard in 2004. The Afghanistan Medal is awarded to Australian defence force personnel who served in or around Afghanistan after 11 October 2001... |
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Iraq Medal Iraq Medal (Australia) The Iraq Medal was instituted by Queen Elizabeth II on the advice of the Australian Prime Minister John Howard in 2004. The Iraq Medal is awarded to Australian Defence Force personnel who served in or around Iraq after 18 March 2003... |
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Australian Service Medal Australian Service Medal The Australian Service Medal is an Australian military decoration. It was authorized 13 September 1988 to recognise prescribed service in peacekeeping and non-warlike operations. It is awarded with a clasp to denote the prescribed operation and subsequent awards of the medal are made in the form of... |
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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 4 Clasps |
35 Years of Service |
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Australian Defence Medal Australian Defence Medal The Australian Defence Medal is an Australian military decoration which recognises current and former Australian Defence Force personnel who completed an initial enlistment period, or four years service... |
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Gulf Medal (UK) Gulf Medal The Gulf War Medal was a campaign medal approved in 1992, for issue to officers and men of British forces who served in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia during Operation Granby in 1990-91.... |
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Kuwait Liberation Medal Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) The Naut Tahrir al-Kuwait was instituted by King Fahd ibn Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia for service during the Liberation of Kuwait campaign.- Background :... |
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US Legion of Merit Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements... |
Officer in the US Legion of Merit |
| NATO Medal for Service with ISAF |