Operation OUTREACH: Major General Dave Chalmers, AO, CSC
Major General Dave Chalmers graduated from RMC in December 1980 and was commissioned into the Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC). Following initial employment as a tank troop leader in 1st Armoured Regiment he enjoyed a number of regimental postings in armoured personnel carrier and reconnaissance units and at the School of Armour. In 1997/98 he commanded a reconnaissance regiment, 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry). He was National Commander of the Australian Contingent on Operation Tanager in East Timor in 2001/2002, and commanded the 7th Brigade in 2004/2005. Major General Chalmers also commanded Combined Joint Task Force 629, the ADF relief effort in Sumatra following the Boxing Day 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, and Joint Task Force 636, the ADF support to the Melbourne Commonwealth Games during the planning stages in 2005.
Major General Chalmers' staff experience has been principally concerned with land force development and has included postings in the Directorate of Armour, Land Development Branch in ADHQ, Future Land Warfare Branch and most recently as Director General Preparedness and Plans in Army Headquarters from Nov 2005 until Jun 2006. He was an honorary Aide de Camp to the Governor General and a member of the Sporting Wheelies Advisory Council in Queensland in 2004/2005. Major General Chalmers was closely involved in the Army 21, Restructuring the Army and Hardening the Army reviews.
In Jan 1997, Major General Chalmers was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross for his work as Secretary to the Army 21 Review. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in Jan 2003 for his service in East Timor and promoted to become an Officer of the Order of Australia in Jun 2006 for distinguished service as the Commander, Combined Joint Task Force 629 on Operation Sumatra Assist.
During his tenure as the Commander 7th Brigade he oversaw deployments from the Brigade to Op SPIRE, Op CATALYST, Op SLIPPER, Op ANODE, Op RELEX, Op ACOLYTE, Op SUMATRA ASSIST, Op MUZURKA and Op AZURA.
He has attended a number of training institutions including the UK Armour School (1985/6), Australian Command and Staff College (1992), and the US Army War College (2002/2003). He was selected to be the Chief of Army's Visiting Fellow to the Australian Defence Studies Centre in 1999. As well as a BA(mil) he has a Masters degree in Defence Studies and a Masters in Strategic Studies.
Major General Chalmers was promoted to Major General on 28 June 2006.
Major General Chalmers is married to Sue and has a son (Craig) and a daughter (Megan) who are 22 and 19-years-old respectively.