Tim McOwan
Encyclopedia
Major General
Timothy Joseph "Tim" McOwan DSC
, CSM
is a senior officer in the Australian Army
. He served as Special Operations Commander Australia
from February 2008 until January 2011.
in 1976, and gained his commission via the Royal Military College, Duntroon
in 1980.
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 the U.K. Joint Services Command and 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:
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.
McOwan assumed the appointment of Special Operations Commander Australia
in February 2008; he relinquished this post in January 2011.
(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.
_ribbon.png)
_with_star.jpg)
Major General (Australia)
Major General is a senior rank of the Australian Army, and was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of Major General. It is the third-highest active rank of the Australian Army, and is considered to be equivalent to a two-star rank...
Timothy Joseph "Tim" McOwan DSC
Distinguished Service Cross (Australia)
The Distinguished Service Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force. It is awarded for distinguished command and leadership in action. The DSC was introduced in 1991 and is the highest distinguished service decoration in the Australian Honours System...
, CSM
Conspicuous Service Medal
The Conspicuous Service Medal is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force, it is awarded for meritorious achievement or dedication to duty in non-war like situations. The CSM was introduced in 1989 and is a distinct Australian military award. It is the second...
is a senior officer in the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
. He served as Special Operations Commander Australia
Special Operations Command (Australia)
The Special Operations Command is a command within the Australian Defence Force . Special Operations Command was established in May 2003, to unite all of the ADF special forces units. As of 2007 Special Operations Command is fully operational. Australia's Special Operations Command is of...
from February 2008 until January 2011.
Service history
Tim McOwan enlisted in the Australian ArmyAustralian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
in 1976, and gained his commission via the Royal Military College, Duntroon
Royal Military College, Duntroon
The Royal Military College, Duntroon is the Australian Army's officer training establishment. It was founded at Duntroon, in the Australian Capital Territory, in 1911 and is situated on picturesque grounds at the foot of Mount Pleasant near Lake Burley Griffin, close to the Department of Defence...
in 1980.
McOwan served in regimental appointments with the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment is a regular light infantry battalion of the Australian Army. 1 RAR was first formed as the 65th Australian Infantry Battalion in 1945 and since then has been deployed on active service during the Korean War, the Malayan Emergency and the Vietnam War...
(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
Special Air Service
Special Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
and the Special Boat Service
Special Boat Service
The Special Boat Service is the special forces unit of the British Royal Navy. Together with the Special Air Service, Special Reconnaissance Regiment and the Special Forces Support Group they form the United Kingdom Special Forces and come under joint control of the same Director Special...
.
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
Fort Queenscliff
Fort Queenscliff, in Victoria, Australia, dates from 1860 when an open battery was constructed on Shortland's Bluff to defend the entrance to Port Phillip. The Fort, which underwent major redevelopment in the late 1870s and 1880s, became the headquarters for an extensive chain of forts around Port...
, 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
Operation Mazurka
Operation Mazurka is the Australian Defence Force's contribution to the Multinational Force and Observers , an international peacekeeping force, based in the Sinai Peninsula, overseeing the terms of the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty....
, with the Multinational Force and Observers
Multinational Force and Observers
The Multinational Force and Observers is an international peacekeeping force overseeing the terms of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.-Background:...
(MFO), Sinai, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
where he served as the Force Assistant Chief of Staff.
1998 saw McOwan attended the U.K. Joint Services Command and Staff College
Joint Services Command and Staff College
Joint Services Command and Staff College is a British military academic establishment providing training and education to experienced officers of the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force, Ministry of Defence Civil Service, and serving officers of other states.-History:JSCSC combined the single...
before being deployed to the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
on Operation Pollard as a member of the United States Central Command
United States Central Command
The United States Central Command is a theater-level Unified Combatant Command unit of the U.S. armed forces, established in 1983 under the operational control of the U.S. Secretary of Defense...
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 (INTERFET) 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
War on Terrorism
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
, Operation Slipper
Operation Slipper
Operation Slipper is the Australian Defence Force contribution to the war in Afghanistan. The operation commenced in late 2001 and is ongoing...
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
Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense who advise the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the President on military matters...
in The Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
, Washington DC. This appointment saw him responsible to the Chief of the Defence Force
Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)
Chief of the Defence Force is the most senior appointment in the Australian Defence Force . The CDF commands the ADF under the direction of the Minister of Defence, in a coequal arrangement with the Secretary of Defence, the most senior public servant in the Department of Defence.The position is a...
for liaison between the US Defence Force and the Australian Defence Force
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
in the areas of operations, strategic plans and intelligence.
McOwan assumed the appointment of Special Operations Commander Australia
Special Operations Command (Australia)
The Special Operations Command is a command within the Australian Defence Force . Special Operations Command was established in May 2003, to unite all of the ADF special forces units. As of 2007 Special Operations Command is fully operational. Australia's Special Operations Command is of...
in February 2008; he relinquished this post in January 2011.
Personal
McOwan's academic achievements include a Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(Military Studies), a Graduate Diploma
Graduate Diploma
A Graduate Diploma is generally a postgraduate qualification, although some graduate diplomas involve the study of undergraduate level courses...
in Management, a Graduate Diploma in Defence Studies, a Masters in Business Administration and a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Strategic Studies.
Tim McOwan is married, and has two children.
Honours and awards
| Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Service Cross (Australia) The Distinguished Service Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force. It is awarded for distinguished command and leadership in action. The DSC was introduced in 1991 and is the highest distinguished service decoration in the Australian Honours System... (DSC) |
Awarded for Operation Warden | |
| |
Conspicuous Service Medal Conspicuous Service Medal The Conspicuous Service Medal is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force, it is awarded for meritorious achievement or dedication to duty in non-war like situations. The CSM was introduced in 1989 and is a distinct Australian military award. It is the second... (CSM) |
Awarded for Operation Mazurka |
| |
Australian Active Service Medal Australian Active Service Medal The Australian Active Service Medal is an Australian military decoration. It was authorised 13 September 1988 to recognise prescribed service in warlike operations... |
With "EAST TIMOR" clasp |
| |
International Force East Timor Medal International Force East Timor Medal The International Force East Timor Medal recognises members of the Australian Defence Force who served for 30 days in East Timor during the INTERFET campaign... |
|
| |
Australian Service Medal Australian Service Medal The Australian Service Medal is an Australian military decoration. It was authorized 13 September 1988 to recognise prescribed service in peacekeeping and non-warlike operations. It is awarded with a clasp to denote the prescribed operation and subsequent awards of the medal are made in the form of... |
With "SINAI", "IRAQ" & "EAST TIMOR" clasps |
| |
Defence Force Service Medal Defence Force Service Medal The Defence Force Service Medal is an Australian Military award given for long service by permanent members of the Australian Defence Force... with 4 clasps |
35 years service |
| |
Australian Defence Medal Australian Defence Medal The Australian Defence Medal is an Australian military decoration which recognises current and former Australian Defence Force personnel who completed an initial enlistment period, or four years service... |
|
| |
Multinational Force and Observers Medal Multinational Force and Observers Medal The Multinational Force and Observers Medal is an international military decoration which was first created on March 24, 1982. The medal was established under the authority of the Director-General of the Multinational Force and Observers which were established to monitor a neutral ceasefire zone,... |
With "2" award numeral |
| |
Meritorious Unit Citation Meritorious Unit Citation The Meritorious Unit Citation is a collective group decoration awarded to members of Australian military units. It recognises sustained outstanding service in warlike operations... |
Awarded to 3 Squadron, Special Air Service Regiment Australian Special Air Service Regiment The Special Air Service Regiment, officially abbreviated SASR but commonly known as the SAS, is a special forces unit of the Australian Army... |
