Les Rudman

Major General Les Rudman was a General Officer in the South African Army from the infantry.

Military career General Rudman was an honorary Special Forces Operator, Pathfinder and parachutist instructor. He was appointed to the post of Deputy Chief of the South African Army on 1 October 2011. He was awarded the Sword of Honour at the South African Military Academy in 1976. He retired at the end of March 2015 and was succeeded by Maj Gen Lawrence Smith. He served at 31 Battalion as Company Commander, had the 32 Battalion Recce Group and some of the Pathfinders from 1 Parachute Battalion placed under his command during Operation Moduler in 1987 as part of his Liaison Team to UNITA and for this he was awarded the Pro Virtute Decoration, 1 Parachute Battalion and Brigade Commander 44 Parachute Brigade while based in Bloemfontein. He was Army attaché to Washington, DC where he was replaced by Col Chris Gildenhuys from the Armoured corps. He was appointed as Commanding General of the Special Forces Brigade reporting to Lt Gen Deon Ferreira and Lt Gen Godfrey Ngwenya, taking over from Brig Gen Borries Bornman. After this prestigious posting, he was promoted to the rank of major general as Chief Director Corporate Services in the Army Headquarters successively under Lt Gen Solly Shoke and Lt Gen Vusi Masondo. His last appointment was as Deputy Chief of the South African Army.

Honours and awards

+ Proficiency badges (Honorary)