Brigadier Damian Roche

Damian Roche was born on 25th February 1956 in Sydney and raised in Wollongong. After completing his secondary education at Chevalier College Bowral, he entered the Royal Military College in 1974 graduating in 1977 into the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. His initial appointment was as a Platoon Commander in the 1st Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR) in Townsville. He further served with the Regiment as Adjutant and Company Commander of 8/9 RAR from 1985 – 1987 and later was CO 8/9 RAR in 1993 to 94.

He has had postings in the Directorate of Infantry, the Directorate of Officer Career Management and the Office of National Assessments.  He has instructed at the Royal Military College Duntroon and at the Army Command and Staff College. He was the last full-time Director of Infantry and the founding Commandant of the Combat Arms Training Centre.
On promotion to Brigadier he commanded the 1st Brigade from 2001 to 2002 and was then appointed as the DG Career Management Policy in DPE. In 2005 he was appointed as the CDF LO to the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington DC and from 2006 to 2007 was the Military Attaché to the US Army. 
In 1995 he deployed as the CO of the Australian Medical Support Force to Rwanda. He was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross as a result of this service.

Brigadier Roche is a 1988 graduate of the Pakistan Army Command and Staff College, Quetta and the Australian College of Defence and Strategic Studies in 2000.

Damian Roche’s interests include reading, music, fine wine, rugby and cricket. He is a golf tragic.