Michael Slater (general)

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.

Contents

Early life

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]

Service history

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.

Personal

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]

Honours and awards

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

References

  1. ^ Defence Leaders' Biography archived from the original on 30 July 2008
  2. ^ a b It's an Honour - Distinguished Service Cross
  3. ^ International Policing - Speakers
  4. ^ "Flood recovery leader appointed". Sydney Morning Herald. 5 January 2011. http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/flood-recovery-leader-appointed-20110105-19fad.html. Retrieved 9 January 2011. 
  5. ^ HPE Biography
  6. ^ It's an Honour - Member of the Order of Australia
  7. ^ It's an Honour - Conspicuous Service Cross
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