Gus Gilmore

Major General Peter Warwick "Gus" Gilmore (born 31 January 1962) is a retired senior officer of the Australian Army. A graduate of the Royal Military College, Duntroon, he was commissioned into the Royal Australian Infantry Corps in 1983 and spent much of his career in special forces. He commanded the Special Air Service Regiment (2001–02), led the first contingent of the Australian Special Operations Task Group in Afghanistan (2001–02), was responsible for the Coalition Advisory Support Team in Iraq (2005–06), and commanded International Security Assistance Force Special Operations Forces (2009–10). Following promotion to major general he held a succession of senior appointments, including Special Operations Commander Australia (2011–13), Deputy Chief of Army (2013–15), and Commander Forces Command (2015–16). His final appointment was as Head Military Strategic Commitments Division from 2016 to 2019.

Early life and education Peter Warwick Gilmore was born on 31 January 1962 in Sydney, New South Wales, the youngest of three children to Ian George Charles Gilmore and Alison Shirley Gilmore ( Cayley). Ian Gilmore was an officer in the Australian Army who saw service in the Second World War, Korean War and Vietnam War, and rose to the rank of brigadier. He graduated from Duntroon with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the affiliated University of New South Wales, and was commissioned a lieutenant in the Royal Australian Infantry Corps on 14 December 1983. He later read for a Master of Arts in International Relations at Deakin University. He is a graduate of the Royal Military College of Science in the United Kingdom, the Australian Army Command and Staff College, the Australian Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies, and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. That year, he was selected as a recipient of the Centenary Medal in recognition of his "service to Australian society through the Australian Army".

Gilmore's period as commanding officer of the SASR coincided with Operation Slipper, Australia's initial commitment to the War in Afghanistan. The Australian government decided to deploy a Special Operations Task Group, which was to include 1 Squadron SASR under Major Daniel McDaniel. The contingent embarked in October, with Gilmore in command. The Task Group deployed via Diego Garcia and Kuwait to Kandahar Province in southern Afghanistan. There, Gilmore's men worked alongside United States Marines in Brigadier General Jim Mattis's Combined Task Force 45 to eliminate terrorist save havens by disrupting Taliban and Al Qaeda elements in the region. After more than three months of heavy activity, during which 1 Squadron SASR was involved in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, Gilmore was succeeded in command of the Australian Special Operations Task Group by Lieutenant Colonel Rowan Tink on 1 February 2002. Three squadrons of the SASR completed operational rotations in Afghanistan over the first twelve months, receiving praise from Mattis and other coalition partners for their efficiency and effectiveness. The squadrons' achievements were recognised with the Meritorious Unit Citation, while Gilmore was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) and the United States Bronze Star Medal. The citation for Gilmore's DSC praised his "distinguished and inspirational leadership" in Afghanistan, noting that he "demonstrated an exceptionally high level of leadership and remarkably fine political acumen."

Rise to senior command In 2003, Gilmore was posted to Australian Army Headquarters in Canberra as Director of Strategy and International Engagement. He was soon after seconded to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, where he spent eighteen months working in the National Security Division. Promoted brigadier in November 2005, Gilmore deployed to Baghdad to lead the Coalition Advisory Support Team in the Iraqi Joint Headquarters. His work supported coalition operations in the Iraq War, including those of the Australian forces deployed on Operation Catalyst;

Gilmore (left) discusses troop movements with a United States Marine Corps major during a training exercise in the Northern Territory, August 2015.

Gilmore was selected to command the Special Operations Forces assigned to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), and redeployed to Afghanistan to take up the role in October 2009. The posting lasted twelve months and, on his return to Australia, he was promoted major general and succeeded Major General Tim McOwan as Special Operations Commander Australia (SOCAUST) in January 2011. Three months later, on 20 September, he succeeded Major General Angus Campbell as Deputy Chief of Army. Based at Victoria Barracks, Sydney, in this role he was responsible for the training, development and sustainment of the bulk of the Australian Army's forces and training establishments, including its infantry and aviation brigades and the Army Recruit Training Centre. In December 2016, he became Head Military Strategic Commitments Division within the Vice Chief of Defence Force Group, with purview for the strategic management of potential and present commitments for the Australian Defence Force. He relinquished the appointment and retired in 2019.

Personal life Gilmore is married and has three children. An active sportsman, he enjoys running, surfing, and spectating rugby union.

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