Tim McOwan

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Tim McOwan
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Australian Army
Years of service	1976 - Present
Rank	Major General
Commands held	Special Air Service Regiment Special Operations Commander Australia
Battles/wars	Operation Mazurka Operation Pollard International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) Operation Spitfire Operation Warden Operation Gold War in Afghanistan Operation Slipper Iraq War Operation Falconer
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross Conspicuous Service Medal

Major General Timothy Joseph McOwan DSC, CSM, is the current Special Operations Commander Australia.

Contents 1 Service History 2 Personal 3 Honours and Awards 4 References 5 External Links

[edit] Service History

Tim McOwan enlisted in the Australian Army in 1976, and gained his commission via the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1980.

Major General McOwan served in regimental appointments with the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR) and the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR). His service with 1RAR included an attachment to the Rifle Company Butterworth, in Malaysia while his service with the SAS included a two-year secondment to the headquarters commanding the British Special Air Service and the Special Boat Service.

Whilst in SASR he served as a Vehicle Mounted Troop Commander, a Counter Terrorist Troop Commander, an Operations Officer and Adjutant. He also commanded SAS Operations Support Squadron, between 1990 and 1991. In 1992 McOwan attended the Army Command and Staff College at Fort Queenscliff, following which he served in staff appointments within the Directorate of Operational Support in Army Headquarters.

In 1994 he was then appointed as Commander Australian Service Contingent Operation Mazurka, with the Multinational Force and Observers MFO, Sinai, Egypt where he served as the Force Assistant Chief of Staff.

1998 saw McOwan attended Joint Services Staff College, before being deployed to the Persian Gulf on Operation Pollard as a member of the United States Central Command led Coalition Headquarters.

McOwan assumed command of the Special Air Service Regiment in 1999, holding that position until 2001. During his time as Commanding Officer McOwan commanded Joint Task Force 504 during Operation Spitfire, the Special Operations Component of International Force for East Timor during Operation Warden and Joint Task Force 643 during Operation Gold, the ADF Counter Terrorism support to the Sydney Olympics.

During 2001 McOwan was appointed the Chief Staff Officer Plans in Joint Operations Command. In this capacity he was responsible for operational planning for Australia’s commitment to the War On Terror, Operation Slipper in Afghanistan and Operation Falconer in Iraq, as well as numerous other ADF operations.

In 2004 he became the Director Strategy and International Engagement in Army Headquarters, before assuming the appointment of Deputy Special Operations Commander, Australia.

In January 2006 he was appointed the Chief of Defence Force Liaison Officer to the Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff in The Pentagon, Washington DC. This appointment saw him responsible to the Chief of the Defence Force for liaison between the US Defence Force and the Australian Defence Force in the areas of operations, strategic plans and intelligence.

Major General McOwan assumed his current appointment as Special Operations Commander Australia in February 2008.^[1]

[edit] Personal

McOwan's academic achievements include a Bachelor of Arts (Military Studies), a Graduate Diploma in Management, a Graduate Diploma in Defence Studies, a Masters in Business Administration and a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies.

Tim McOwan is married, and has two children.^[2]

[edit] Honours and Awards

	Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)	Awarded for Operation Warden[3]
	Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM)	Awarded for Operation Mazurka
	Australian Active Service Medal	With "EAST TIMOR" clasp
	International Force East Timor Medal
	Australian Service Medal	With "SINAI", "IRAQ" & "EAST TIMOR" clasps
	Defence Force Service Medal with 3 clasps	30-35 years service
	Australian Defence Medal
	Multinational Force and Observers Medal	With "2" award numeral
	Meritorious Unit Citation	Awarded to 3 Squadron, Special Air Service Regiment [4]

[edit] References

[edit] External Links

• Special Forces entry
• The Ararat Advertiser - Army Promotion
• Official photo (copyright)

Military offices
Preceded by Major General Mike Hindmarsh AO, CSC	Special Operations Commander 2008-Present	Succeeded by Incumbent