Defence Leaders: Director-General Public Affairs
Brigadier Brian Robert Dawson, AM, CSC
Director-General Public Affairs
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Brigadier Brian Robert Dawson, AM, CSC
Brian Dawson was born on in Taralgon Victoria. After completing his secondary education at Rochester High School, he entered the Royal Military College in 1973 graduating in 1976 into the Royal Australian Infantry Corps.
His initial appointment was as a Platoon Commander in the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR) in Woodside. He further served with the Regiment as Second-in-Command of 8/9 RAR in 1990 to 91.
During the period 1980-86 he served with the Special Air Service Regiment as a troop commander, operations officer and commanded the counter terrorist squadron in 1986. He also had a two-year appointment in the United Kingdom as a staff officer on Headquarters Special Air Service Group during 1981 to 83.
He served in Army Logistic Command as a Staff Officer Grade One 1992-94, the Commanding Officer Base Administrative Support Centre North Queensland 1995-96 and Colonel Operations in Support Command Australia (Army) 1997 to 1999.
He has had operational service in Somalia from October 1993 to May 1994 as the Plans Officer on Headquarters United Nations Operations in Somalia (UNOSOM), and in the Solomon Islands as the Commander of the Australian Service Contingent for Operation TREK from Nov 1999 to Feb 2000. He also served in Iraq 2007-2008 as the Deputy Commander Joint Task Force 633.
Brigadier Dawson is a graduate of the Australian Army Command and Staff College 1989 and the Australian College of Defence and Strategic Studies 2000. As a graduate of the University of New South Wales he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Military Studies in 1976 and a Master of Management Studies in 2005. He completed a Master in Strategic Studies through Latrobe University in 2001.
Brigadier Dawson was appointed the Director General Preparedness in Defence Headquarters in 2001, Chief of Staff Land Headquarters from 2003 to 2005 and Commandant of the Australian Defence Force Academy in February 2006. He assumed his current appointment as the Director General public affairs in June 2008.
He was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross as a result of this service in Somalia in 1994 and appointed a member of the Member of the Military Division of the order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours list in 2000 for his service in Support Command Australia.
Brian Dawson and his wife Jacqui have a son and daughter. His interests include military history, Australian rules football and cricket. Brian has been the Chairman of Defence Aussie Rules since 2001.