Spouse(s) Lois Walker (m. 1952) Nationality Australian | Succeeded by Rex Stevenson Preceded by John Ryan Name Jim Furner | |
Full Name James Osmond Furner Born 25 November 1927
Warrigal, Victoria, Australia ( 1927-11-25 ) Died 17 September 2007(2007-09-17) (aged 79)
Terrigal, New South Wales, Australia | ||
Prime Minister Bob Hawke
Paul Keating | ||
Brigadier James Osmond Furner, (25 November 1927 – 17 September 2007) was an Australian military intelligence officer, who was the longest serving Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) from 1984 to 1992.
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Military career
After completing a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Melbourne and working as a school teacher, Furner embarked on a career change and enlisted in the Australian Army, becoming one of the first cadets to be trained at the Officer Cadet School, Portsea. On completion of his training, Furner joined the infantry where he was posted overseas with the 1st Commonwealth Division in South Korea from 1955 to 1956.
In 1982, Furner joined the Joint Intelligence Organisation as deputy director, and retired from the army to take the civilian post of director a few months later.
Australian Secret Intelligence Service
In late 1983, the acting Director-General of ASIS. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Bill Hayden, asked Furner to take the role in an acting capacity in February 1984.