Biographical Details

Colonel Andy Sims

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Australian Commanding Officer of Operation Pakistan Assist

Andy Sims was born in Taiping, Malaysia in July 1960. After completing his secondary schooling at Hurlstone Agricultural High School in Sydney, he entered the Royal Military College in 1980 graduating to the Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps in 1983.

His initial appointment was as a Supply Officer at 31st Supply Battalion with a subsequent posting as a Lieutenant to 3rd Field Supply Company.

He was promoted to Captain in January 1986 and appointed Officer Commanding 29th Combat Supplies Platoon. This was followed by attendance at the US Army Quartermaster Officer Advanced Course and a subsequent posting as a Small Group Instructor on the same course. On return to Australia in 1991 he was appointed the Staff Officer Grade Three Supply on Headquarters 6th Brigade.

In January 1992 he was promoted to the rank of Major and appointed the Staff Officer Grade Two Personnel on the Deployable Joint Force Headquarters, a position he held until December 1994.

Following attendance at Australian Army Command and Staff College in 1995 he was posted to Army Headquarters as a Staff Officer Grade Two in the Directorate of Ordnance. In 1997 he undertook an operational tour of Bosnia-Herzegovina as the Commander Logistic Support on the UK National Support Element, and Commander of the Australian Service Contingent.

On completion of this deployment he returned to Australia on promotion to Lieutenant Colonel and assumed the appointment of National Materiel Manager Communications Equipment in Support Command Australia. In 2000 he took up the appointment of Commanding Officer and Chief Instructor Integrated Logistic Division of the Army Logistic Training Centre.

In 2002 he was again posted to Army Headquarters as the Staff Officer Grade One Experimentation in Future Land Warfare Branch. 2002 and 2003 saw him deployed on operations as the J1/J4 and Chief of Staff of the Australian National Command Element - East Timor.

On return to Australia he was appointed a Directing Staff at Australian Command and Staff College and has recently completed a two year tenure as the Commander Force Support Group/Chief of Staff Headquarters Logistic Support Force.

In late 2005 he deployed to Pakistan as Commander of a Joint Task Force that provided earthquake disaster relief, and in 2006 is a student at the Australian Defence College.

As a graduate of the University of New South Wales he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Military Studies in 1983. He has subsequently been awarded a Graduate Diploma in Management from the University of Central Queensland and a Masters of Business Administration (Strategic Management) from Charles Sturt University.

Colonel Sims was awarded with a Conspicuous Service Cross in the Australia Day Honours List in 2002 for his achievements as Commanding Officer and Chief Instructor of Integrated Logistic Division. He was also awarded a Commendation for Distinguished Service in the 2004 Australia Day Honours List for his performance on operations in East Timor.

Colonel Sims enjoys being active and maintaining his fitness.