Defence Leaders: Army
Major General Paul Symon, AO
Deputy Chief of Army
Born in Melbourne in 1960, Major General Paul Symon graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in 1982 and was allotted to the Royal Australian Artillery. He has seen regimental service in the 8th/12th Medium Regiment and three tours with the 1st Field Regiment, culminating in command of the Regiment in 1998-1999.
Major General Symon has served in a number of staff and training appointments. He has served as ADC to the Chief of Army and Military Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Army. He has been posted to an overseas exchange instructor’s position at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. He has served as Army’s Director General of Personnel and Director General Pacific, International Policy Division. He has also served as Chief of Staff of the Deployable Joint Force Headquarters.
Brigadier Symon has deployed on four occasions. In 1997 he was appointed national commander of UNTSO, serving in Southern Lebanon and the Golan Heights. Then in May 1999, he was appointed national commander of UNAMET and oversaw UN military engagement prior to and throughout the outbreak of violence in East Timor.
In 2003, he was appointed military adviser to Mr Nick Warner, the Special Coordinator of RAMSI, based in Honiara. Then, from November 2005 until May 2006, he was appointed Commander Middle East, which gave him national command responsibility for troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and surrounding regional countries.
He is a recipient of the Sword of Honour, and is a graduate of the Australian Command and Staff College and the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, a Master of Defence Studies from UNSW and a Master of Arts from Deakin University. He was named a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2000 Queen’s Birthday honours list, and further recognised for his operational service in the Middle East with the award of Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2007 Australia Day honours list.
Major General Symon was appointed Deputy Chief of Army on 1 December 2008.
Personal Details
Brigadier Symon is married to his wife of 23 years (Kate) and they have two teenage children. He enjoys running half marathons.