Operation ANODE
Lieutenant Colonel David Thomson
Commander Combined Task Force
In 1989 he was transferred to the Officer Cadet Training Unit graduating as the Sword of Honour Cadet (best cadet officer). He served his first appointment with the 11th/28th Battalion, The Royal Western Australia Regiment as a Rifle Platoon Commander then Pioneer Platoon Commander. He was then transferred to Kununurra serving as the NORFORCE Troop Commander for the Eastern Kimberley Region.
On return to Perth he attended Intermediate Course in 1994 and was posted to WAUR in 1995 as the Tactics Instructor then Course Commander of the last First Appointment Course (Officer Candidate Course) to graduate in Western Australia. His next posting was to 16th Battalion, The Royal Western Australia Regiment as the 2IC of Bravo Company in 1997. In August of that year he became the Officer Commanding Bravo Company.
In 1998 he was posted as the Officer Commanding Charlie Company, 16 Battalion, the General Reserves Special Reporting Company. In 1999 he was posted to Delta Company 16 Battalion Multi User Depot Joondalup as the Officer Commanding and promoted to Major. In 2000 he was transferred to 11th/28th Battalion, The Royal Western Australia Regiment as the Officer Commanding Support Company.
In 2004 he attended the Australian Defence College Canberra before attending the Pre – Command Seminar.
Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, he assumed command of the 11th/28th Battalion, The Royal Western Australia Regiment in 2005 and was granted at third year of command until 2007. In this year he planned and commanded the OP ANODE ROT 14 MRE in Cowley Beach QLD.
In 2008 he was appointed as Chief of Staff 13 Brigade Headquarters. In 2009 he was tasked to command the land forces for EX Sealion 08 which included 13th BDE HRR Coy and forces from 3rd BDE.
In Feb 2009 he was tasked to Comd CTF 635 by the Comd 2nd Div for Rotations 19,20,21 for a period of twelve months in country. He will go onto CFTS on the 28th of April to plan and implement the FPT and MRE of Rot 19.
Lieutenant Colonel Thompson is currently a Teacher working for the Department of Education and Training, Western Australia at Rosalie Primary School in Subiaco and is married with two daughters.