| Michael David Slater | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Mick |
| Born | Brisbane, Queensland |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service/branch | Australian Army |
| Years of service | 1978 – Present |
| Rank | Major General |
| Commands held | Forces Command 1st Division Joint Task Force 630 3rd Brigade 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment |
| Battles/wars | International Force for East Timor Operation Astute |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Cross Member of the Order of Australia Conspicuous Service Cross |
Major General Michael David (Mick) Slater DSC, AM, CSC is the current Commander Forces Command in the Australian Army.
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Mick Slater was born in Brisbane, Queensland, and educated at St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace. He later worked and studied his way through the Queensland University of Technology, joining the Australian Army in 1978, attending the Officer Cadet School, Portsea.[1]
Slater has commanded at all levels from platoon to brigade level.
His operational commands have included the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, and the 3rd Brigade on operations in East Timor, during International Force for East Timor (INTERFET). Slater was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his distinguished command and leadership while commander of 2RAR on Operation Warden, in East Timor.[2] Also he served as an operations staff officer in the United States 3rd Army Headquarters in Kuwait on Operation Pollard.
He has undertaken formal education in mobilisation planning in the United States of America, and is a graduate of the Army Command and Staff College Fort Queenscliff, the Joint Services Command and Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College. Slater holds Masters’ Degrees in Strategic Studies and Business Administration.[3]
Slater is currently serving as Commander Deployable Joint Force Headquarters, having previously held the position of Head Personnel Executive.
In January 2011, Slater was appointed to lead the Flood Recovery Taskforce overseeing recovery from the 2010–2011 Queensland floods.[4] This taskforce subsequently transitioned into the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, where Slater remained until the 31st August 2011, formally handing over to former Director of the Defence Intelligence Organisation Major General Richard Wilson.
Mick Slater is married to Danielle and has three adult children from a previous marriage. He appeared on the Chaser's War On Everything because of his smart remarks to a newsreader.[5]
| Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) | Awarded for Operation Warden[2] | |
| Member of the Order of Australia (AM) | Awarded for Operations Larry Assist and Astute[6] | |
| Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) | Australia Day Honours List 1998[7] | |
| Australian Active Service Medal | With "EAST TIMOR" clasp | |
| International Force East Timor Medal | ||
| Australian Service Medal | With "IRAQ" & "TIMOR-LESTE" clasps | |
| Defence Force Service Medal with 3 clasps | 30–34 years service | |
| Australian Defence Medal |
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Major General Richard Wilson |
Commander 1st Division May 2009 – 2011 |
Succeeded by Major General Rick Burr |
| Preceded by Major General Jeffrey Sengelman |
Commander Forces Command November 2011 – Present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |