Allegiance Australia Awards Order of Australia Years of service 1971–2008 Service/branch Australian Army | Name Peter Leahy Rank Lieutenant general Role University Professor | |
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Born 30 October 1952 (age 71)
Melbourne, Victoria ( 1952-10-30 ) Commands held Chief of Army (2002–08)
Deputy Chief of Army (2000–02)
3rd Brigade (1997–98)
8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1990–92) Education Royal Military College, Duntroon | ||
Alliance 21 peter leahy on humanitarian and disaster relief missions
Lieutenant General Peter Francis Leahy AC (born 30 October 1952) is a retired senior officer of the Australian Army, whose military career culminated with his appointment as Chief of the Army from 2002 until 2008. He has been director of the National Security Institute, University of Canberra, since October 2008.
Contents
- Alliance 21 peter leahy on humanitarian and disaster relief missions
- Early life
- Military career
- Chief of Army
- Post military
- Qualifications
- Personal
- References
Early life
Leahy was born in Melbourne, Victoria, on 30 October 1952. He entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1971, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Military Studies in 1974 and being commissioned into the Royal Australian Infantry Corps.
Military career
Leahy's early career included instructional duties at the Officer Cadet School, Portsea and command of a company of Gurkha soldiers during an exchange posting with 10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles in Hong Kong. Over a three-year period he was a student and an instructor at the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Later in his career he was the Commanding Officer of the 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, Military Assistant to the Chief of the General Staff, Director of Army Research and Analysis, Commander of the 3rd Brigade, Chief of Staff of Headquarters Australian Theatre and Deputy Chief of Army.
Chief of Army
Leahy was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed Chief of Army on 28 June 2002. His appointment was extended by a further three years in June 2005, and he retired from the Army on 3 July 2008. Leahy is the longest serving incumbent of the position since General Sir Harry Chauvel in the 1920s, and the only Chief of Army with no operational service in a theatre of war. His honours and awards represent distinguished, long and overseas exchange service not involving combat or operational duties. He visited Australian troops deployed on combat duties overseas during his time as Chief of Army but was never himself posted to the force establishment of any operational unit.
In 1995, Leahy was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM), and in 2002 was upgraded to Officer (AO). In the 2007 Queen's Birthday Honours List, he was elevated to Companion (AC), Australia's highest civil honour.
Post-military
On 19 September 2008, Leahy joined the board of Codan. On 7 October 2008, he joined the staff of the University of Canberra as a Professor and foundation director of the National Security Institute. On 4 May 2009 he joined the board of Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd. He is a member of the Defence SA Advisory Board, a Director of the Kokoda Foundation, Chairman of the Board for wounded veterans charity Soldier On, and serves on the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal Committee in the Australian Capital Territory. Leahy is also the Patron of the Canberra Services Club, a position he has held since 2009.
Qualifications
Personal
Leahy is married to Lee and they have three sons. He enjoys most sports and reading.