# Gus Gilmore

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{{Short description|Australian general}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox military person
|name= Peter Warwick Gilmore
|image= Peter W. Gilmore.jpg
|image_size= 
|alt= 
|caption= Gus Gilmore in 2014
|nickname= Gus
|birth_date= {{birth date and age|1962|01|31|df=yes}}
|birth_place= [Sydney](/source/Sydney), New South Wales
|death_date= 
|death_place= 
|burial_place= 
|allegiance= Australia
|branch= [Australian Army](/source/Australian_Army)
|service_years= 1979–2019
|rank= [Major General](/source/Major_general_(Australia))
|service_number= 
|unit= 
|commands= Military Strategic Commitments Division (2016–19)<br/>[Forces Command](/source/Commander_Forces_Command_(Australia)) (2015–16)<br/>[Deputy Chief of Army](/source/Deputy_Chief_of_Army_(Australia)) (2013–15)<br/>[Special Operations Command](/source/Special_Operations_Command_(Australia)) (2011–13)<br/>[International Security Assistance Force](/source/International_Security_Assistance_Force) Special Operations Forces (2009–10)<br/>{{nowrap|Coalition Advisory Support Team (2005–06)}}<br/>[Special Air Service Regiment](/source/Special_Air_Service_Regiment) (2001–02)
|battles= [War in Afghanistan](/source/War_in_Afghanistan_(2001%E2%80%93present))<br/>[Iraq War](/source/Iraq_War)
|awards= [Officer of the Order of Australia](/source/Officer_of_the_Order_of_Australia)<br/>[Distinguished Service Cross](/source/Distinguished_Service_Cross_(Australia))<br/>[Officer of the Legion of Merit](/source/Legion_of_Merit) (United States)<br/>[Bronze Star Medal](/source/Bronze_Star_Medal) (United States)<br/>[Meritorious Service Medal](/source/Meritorious_Service_Medal_(United_States)) (United States)<ref>{{cite web|last=Gilmore|first=Gus|title=Raising and Training the Australian Army: An Address to the RUSI|work=Institute Proceedings|url=http://www.rusinsw.org.au/Papers/20160628.pdf|publisher=Royal United Service Institute of New South Wales|date=28 June 2016|access-date=26 June 2019}}</ref>
|relations= 
|other_work=
}}
[Major General](/source/Major_general_(Australia)) '''Peter Warwick''' "'''Gus'''" '''Gilmore''', {{postnominals|country=AUS|size=100|sep=,|AO|DSC}} (born 31 January 1962) is a retired senior officer of the [Australian Army](/source/Australian_Army). A graduate of the [Royal Military College, Duntroon](/source/Royal_Military_College%2C_Duntroon), he was [commissioned](/source/Officer_(armed_forces)) into the [Royal Australian Infantry Corps](/source/Royal_Australian_Infantry_Corps) in 1983 and spent much of his career in [special forces](/source/special_forces). He commanded the [Special Air Service Regiment](/source/Special_Air_Service_Regiment) (2001–02), led the first contingent of the Australian Special Operations Task Group in [Afghanistan](/source/War_in_Afghanistan_(2001%E2%80%93present)) (2001–02), was responsible for the Coalition Advisory Support Team in [Iraq](/source/Iraq_War) (2005–06), and commanded [International Security Assistance Force](/source/International_Security_Assistance_Force) Special Operations Forces (2009–10). Following promotion to major general he held a succession of senior appointments, including [Special Operations Commander Australia](/source/Special_Operations_Command_(Australia)) (2011–13), [Deputy Chief of Army](/source/Deputy_Chief_of_Army_(Australia)) (2013–15), and [Commander Forces Command](/source/Commander_Forces_Command_(Australia)) (2015–16). His final appointment was as Head Military Strategic Commitments Division from 2016 to 2019.

==Early life and education==
Peter Warwick Gilmore was born on 31 January 1962 in [Sydney](/source/Sydney), New South Wales, the youngest of three children to Ian George Charles Gilmore and Alison Shirley Gilmore ({{nee}} Cayley).<ref name="Geelong">{{cite web|title=Gilmore, Major General Peter Warwick 'Gus', AO, DSC|url=http://gnet.geelongcollege.vic.edu.au:8080/wiki/GILMORE-Peter-Warwick%2C-AO%2C-DSC.ashx|work=Heritage Guide|publisher=Geelong College|access-date=26 June 2019}}</ref><ref name="Age">{{cite news|title=Obituaries: Gilmore, Ian George Charles|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theage-au/obituary.aspx?n=ian-gilmore&pid=162109843|newspaper=[The Age](/source/The_Age)|date=4 January 2013|access-date=26 June 2019}}</ref> Ian Gilmore was an officer in the [Australian Army](/source/Australian_Army) who saw service in the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War),<ref>{{cite web|title=Gilmore, Ian George Charles|url=http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/Veteran.aspx?ServiceId=A&VeteranId=708148|work=World War II Nominal Roll|publisher=Department of Veterans' Affairs|access-date=16 June 2019}}</ref> [Korean War](/source/Korean_War) and [Vietnam War](/source/Vietnam_War),<ref>{{cite web|title=Gilmore, Ian George|url=http://www.koreanroll.gov.au/veteran.aspx?id=1220590|work=Korean War Nominal Roll|publisher=Department of Veterans' Affairs|access-date=16 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Gilmore, Ian George Charles|url=http://www.vietnamroll.gov.au/VeteranDetails.aspx?VeteranId=1283375|work=Vietnam War Nominal Roll|publisher=Department of Veterans' Affairs|access-date=16 June 2019}}</ref> and rose to the rank of [brigadier](/source/brigadier).<ref name="Geelong"/><ref name="Age"/>

Gilmore was educated at [Canberra Grammar School](/source/Canberra_Grammar_School) and later [Geelong College](/source/Geelong_College) in [Victoria](/source/Victoria_(Australia)), graduating in 1978.<ref name="Geelong"/> Aged 17, he entered the [Royal Military College, Duntroon](/source/Royal_Military_College%2C_Duntroon) in January 1979 as an [Australian Army](/source/Australian_Army) [officer cadet](/source/officer_cadet).<ref name="Who">{{cite web|title=Maj-Gen. (Gus) Peter Warwick Gilmore|url=https://connectweb.com.au/view-biography.aspx?pid=38508&p=WWA|work=[Who's Who in Australia](/source/Who's_Who_in_Australia) Online|publisher=ConnectWeb|access-date=25 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Australian Military Forces|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/240752174/25925768|newspaper=[Commonwealth of Australia Gazette](/source/Commonwealth_of_Australia_Gazette)|date=10 April 1979|access-date=25 June 2019}}</ref><ref name="SOCA">{{cite web|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/leaders/army/warwickGilmore/index.htm|title=Major General Peter Warwick (Gus) Gilmore, DSC, AM|work=Defence Leaders: Army|publisher=Australian Department of Defence|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602020112/http://www.defence.gov.au/leaders/army/warwickGilmore/index.htm|archive-date=2 June 2011}}</ref> He graduated from Duntroon with a [Bachelor of Arts](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts) degree from the affiliated [University of New South Wales](/source/University_of_New_South_Wales), and was [commissioned](/source/Officer_(armed_forces)) a [lieutenant](/source/lieutenant) in the [Royal Australian Infantry Corps](/source/Royal_Australian_Infantry_Corps) on 14 December 1983.<ref name="Who"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Appointment of Officers|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/240823060/25944373|newspaper=[Commonwealth of Australia Gazette](/source/Commonwealth_of_Australia_Gazette)|date=14 August 1984|access-date=25 June 2019}}</ref> He later read for a [Master of Arts](/source/Master_of_Arts) in International Relations at [Deakin University](/source/Deakin_University). He is a graduate of the [Royal Military College of Science](/source/Royal_Military_College_of_Science) in the United Kingdom, the Australian Army Command and Staff College, the [Australian Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies](/source/Centre_for_Defence_and_Strategic_Studies), and the [Australian Institute of Company Directors](/source/Australian_Institute_of_Company_Directors).<ref name="Who"/><ref name="SOCA"/>

==Military career==
===Early career and regimental command===
Gilmore was initially posted to the [8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment](/source/8th%2F9th_Battalion%2C_Royal_Australian_Regiment) as a platoon commander, later serving with the Infantry Centre in [Singleton, New South Wales](/source/Singleton%2C_New_South_Wales), and the [4th/3rd Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment](/source/4th%2F3rd_Battalion%2C_Royal_New_South_Wales_Regiment) in Sydney. In 1988, Gilmore passed selection and was appointed to the [Special Air Service Regiment](/source/Special_Air_Service_Regiment) (SASR). For over a decade he filled various appointments in the SASR, including as a troop commander, [adjutant](/source/adjutant), operations research officer, and squadron commander, rising to the command of the regiment in 2001.<ref name="SOCA"/><ref name="DCA">{{cite web|url=http://www.army.gov.au/Who-we-are/Leaders/Deputy-Chief-of-Army|title=Major General Peter Warwick (Gus) Gilmore, AO, DSC|work=Deputy Chief of Army|publisher=Australian Army|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208020714/http://army.gov.au/Who-we-are/Leaders/Deputy-Chief-of-Army|archive-date=8 February 2014}}</ref> That year, he was selected as a recipient of the [Centenary Medal](/source/Centenary_Medal) in recognition of his "service to Australian society through the Australian Army".<ref>{{cite web|title=Centenary Medal to Peter Warwick Gilmore|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1127249|work=It's an Honour|publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet|access-date=26 June 2019}}</ref>

Gilmore's period as commanding officer of the SASR coincided with [Operation Slipper](/source/Operation_Slipper), Australia's initial commitment to the [War in Afghanistan](/source/War_in_Afghanistan_(2001%E2%80%93present)). The Australian government decided to deploy a Special Operations Task Group, which was to include 1 Squadron SASR under Major [Daniel McDaniel](/source/Daniel_McDaniel). The contingent embarked in October, with Gilmore in command. The Task Group deployed via [Diego Garcia](/source/Diego_Garcia) and [Kuwait](/source/Kuwait) to [Kandahar Province](/source/Kandahar_Province) in southern Afghanistan. There, Gilmore's men worked alongside [United States Marines](/source/United_States_Marines) in Brigadier General [Jim Mattis](/source/Jim_Mattis)'s Combined Task Force 45 to eliminate terrorist save havens by disrupting [Taliban](/source/Taliban) and [Al Qaeda](/source/Al_Qaeda) elements in the region.{{sfn|Masters|2017|pp=3–6}} After more than three months of heavy activity, during which 1 Squadron SASR was involved in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions,{{sfn|Masters|2012|p=87}} Gilmore was succeeded in command of the Australian Special Operations Task Group by Lieutenant Colonel [Rowan Tink](/source/Rowan_Tink) on 1 February 2002.{{sfn|Masters|2017|p=15}} Three squadrons of the SASR completed operational rotations in Afghanistan over the first twelve months, receiving praise from Mattis and other coalition partners for their efficiency and effectiveness.{{sfn|Masters|2017|pp=36, 40}} The squadrons' achievements were recognised with the [Meritorious Unit Citation](/source/Meritorious_Unit_Citation), while Gilmore was awarded the [Distinguished Service Cross](/source/Distinguished_Service_Cross_(Australia)) (DSC) and the United States [Bronze Star Medal](/source/Bronze_Star_Medal).{{sfn|Masters|2017|p=40}}{{sfn|Lee|2006|p=4}} The citation for Gilmore's DSC praised his "distinguished and inspirational leadership" in Afghanistan, noting that he "demonstrated an exceptionally high level of leadership and remarkably fine political acumen."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/Hilltpl.cfm?CurrentId=2107|title=Australian Special Forces Soldiers Honoured for Afghanistan Operation|work=Minister for Defence media release|publisher=Department of Defence|date=22 November 2002|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030729014237/https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/Hilltpl.cfm?CurrentId=2107|archive-date=29 July 2003}}</ref>

===Rise to senior command===
In 2003, Gilmore was posted to Australian Army Headquarters in [Canberra](/source/Canberra) as Director of Strategy and International Engagement. He was soon after seconded to the [Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet](/source/Department_of_the_Prime_Minister_and_Cabinet_(Australia)), where he spent eighteen months working in the National Security Division. Promoted [brigadier](/source/brigadier) in November 2005, Gilmore deployed to [Baghdad](/source/Baghdad) to lead the Coalition Advisory Support Team in the Iraqi Joint Headquarters. His work supported coalition operations in the [Iraq War](/source/Iraq_War), including those of the Australian forces deployed on [Operation Catalyst](/source/Operation_Catalyst);<ref name="Who"/><ref name="SOCA"/><ref name="DCA"/> he was awarded the [Officer of the Legion of Merit](/source/Officer_of_the_Legion_of_Merit) from the United States government for his services in the role.<ref name="Geelong"/> He returned to Australia in 2006 and occupied a series of staff positions at Army Headquarters, including Director General of Defence Public Affairs and Director General Future Land Warfare, and as chief of staff at [Headquarters Special Operations Command](/source/Special_Operations_Command_(Australia)).<ref name="SOCA"/> Gilmore's "exceptional service" in these posts led to his appointment as a [Member of the Order of Australia](/source/Member_of_the_Order_of_Australia) in the [Queen's Birthday Honours](/source/2009_Queen's_Birthday_Honours_(Australia)) of June 2009.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Queen's Birthday 2009 Honours|url=https://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/honours/aaagazattes/2005-2015/Order%20of%20Australia%20-%20Queen's%20Birthday%202009%20(QB09)%20-%20Gazette%20S84.pdf|newspaper=Commonwealth of Australia Gazette|date=8 June 2009|access-date=26 June 2019}}</ref>

[[File:U.S. Marines with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin and Australian Army soldiers train together during Exercise Crocodile Strike 150826-M-HL954-029.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5|Gilmore (left) discusses troop movements with a [United States Marine Corps](/source/United_States_Marine_Corps) major during a training exercise in the [Northern Territory](/source/Northern_Territory), August 2015.]]

Gilmore was selected to command the Special Operations Forces assigned to the [International Security Assistance Force](/source/International_Security_Assistance_Force) (ISAF), and redeployed to Afghanistan to take up the role in October 2009. The posting lasted twelve months and, on his return to Australia, he was promoted [major general](/source/Major_general_(Australia)) and succeeded Major General [Tim McOwan](/source/Tim_McOwan) as [Special Operations Commander Australia](/source/Special_Operations_Command_(Australia)) (SOCAUST) in January 2011.<ref name="Who"/><ref name="SOCA"/><ref name="DCA"/> As SOCAUST, Gilmore was responsible to both the [Chief of Army](/source/Chief_of_Army_(Australia)) and [Chief of Joint Operations](/source/Chief_of_Joint_Operations_(Australia)) for the training, capability development, and operations of Australia's special forces.{{sfn|Davies|Jennings|Scheer|2014|p=12}} In November 2012, Gilmore represented the Australian Army and Special Operations Command during the reinterment of two Australian soldiers at [Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery](/source/Port_Moresby_(Bomana)_War_Cemetery). Both men had been killed while serving with [Z Special Unit](/source/Z_Special_Unit) during the Second World War.{{sfn|McPhedran|2013|pp=311–312}}

Gilmore was appointed an [Officer of the Order of Australia](/source/Officer_of_the_Order_of_Australia) in the [2013 Queen's Birthday Honours](/source/2013_Queen's_Birthday_Honours_(Australia)). The award recognised "his outstanding leadership and commitment to Special Operations Command" as SOCAUST and commander ISAF Special Operations Forces.<ref>{{cite web|title=Officer (AO) in the Military Division of the Order of Australia|url=https://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/honours/qb/qb2013/Media%20Notes%20-%20AO(Mil)%20(final).pdf|work=The Queen's Birthday 2013 Honours List|publisher=Office of the Governor-General of Australia|date=10 June 2013|access-date=26 June 2019}}</ref> Three months later, on 20 September, he succeeded Major General [Angus Campbell](/source/Angus_Campbell_(general)) as [Deputy Chief of Army](/source/Deputy_Chief_of_Army_(Australia)).<ref name="DCA"/> He occupied the role for sixteen months, before being appointed [Commander Forces Command](/source/Forces_Command_(Australia)) on 23 January 2015.<ref name="CFC">{{cite web|url=https://www.army.gov.au/Our-people/Leaders/Commander-Forces-Command|title=Commander Forces Command: Major General PW (Gus) Gilmore, AO, DSC|work=Leaders|publisher=Australian Army|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330034606/https://www.army.gov.au/Our-people/Leaders/Commander-Forces-Command|archive-date=30 March 2016}}</ref> Based at [Victoria Barracks, Sydney](/source/Victoria_Barracks%2C_Sydney), in this role he was responsible for the training, development and sustainment of the bulk of the Australian Army's forces and training establishments, including its infantry and aviation brigades and the [Army Recruit Training Centre](/source/Army_Recruit_Training_Centre).<ref>{{cite web|title=Forces Command|url=https://www.army.gov.au/our-people/units/forces-command|work=Units|publisher=Australian Army|publication-date=5 December 2016|access-date=26 June 2019}}</ref> In December 2016, he became Head Military Strategic Commitments Division within the [Vice Chief of Defence Force Group](/source/Vice_Chief_of_the_Defence_Force_(Australia)),<ref>{{cite web|title=Head Military Strategic Commitments Division: Major General PW 'GUS' Gilmore|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/VCDF/MSC/Bio.asp|work=Vice Chief of the Defence Force Group|publisher=Department of Defence|access-date=26 June 2019}}</ref> with purview for the strategic management of potential and present commitments for the [Australian Defence Force](/source/Australian_Defence_Force). He relinquished the appointment and retired in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|title=Military Strategic Commitments Division|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/VCDF/MSC/|work=Vice Chief of the Defence Force Group|publisher=Department of Defence|access-date=26 June 2019}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Gilmore is married and has three children. An active sportsman, he enjoys running, surfing, and spectating [rugby union](/source/rugby_union).<ref name="SOCA"/>

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{Commons category|Peter W. Gilmore|Gus Gilmore}}
* {{cite book|last1=Davies|first1=Andrew|last2=Jennings|first2=Peter|last3=Scheer|first3=Benjamin|title=A Versatile Force: The Future of Australia's Special Operations Capability|url=https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/ad-aspi/import/Special_operations_capability.pdf?P0FPQ4lfDCoqMEs3Pg7P2BCLJIsuEwKO|year=2014|publisher=Australian Strategic Policy Institute|location=Barton, Australian Capital Territory|isbn=9781921302978}}
* {{cite book|last=Lee|first=Sandra|title=18 Hours: The True Story Of A Modern Day Australian SAS War Hero|year=2006|location=Sydney|publisher=Harper Collins Australia|isbn=978-0-7322-8246-2}}
* {{cite book|last=Masters|first=Chris|author-link=Chris Masters (writer)|title=Uncommon Soldier: Brave, Compassionate and Tough, the Making of Australia's Modern Diggers|year=2012|location=Sydney|publisher=Allen & Unwin|isbn=978-1-74175-971-6}}
* {{cite book|last=Masters|first=Chris|title=No Front Line: Australia's Special Forces at War in Afghanistan|year=2017|location=Sydney|publisher=Allen & Unwin|isbn=978-1-76011-114-4}}
* {{cite book|last=McPhedran|first=Ian|author-link=Ian McPhedran|title=Too Bold To Die: The Making of Australian War Heroes|year=2013|location=Sydney|publisher=HarperCollins Australia|isbn=978-0-7322-9023-8}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=Major General [John Frewen](/source/John_Frewen_(general))}}
{{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|Head Military Strategic Commitments Division}}|years=2016–2019}}
{{s-aft|after=Rear Admiral [Jaimie Hatcher](/source/Jaimie_Hatcher)}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Major General [Michael Slater](/source/Michael_Slater_(general))}}
{{s-ttl|title=[Commander Forces Command](/source/Commander_Forces_Command_(Australia))|years=2015–2016}}
{{s-aft|after=Major General [Gus McLachlan](/source/Gus_McLachlan)}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Major General [Angus Campbell](/source/Angus_Campbell_(general))}}
{{s-ttl|title=[Deputy Chief of Army](/source/Deputy_Chief_of_Army_(Australia))|years=2013–2015}}
{{s-aft|after=Major General [Rick Burr](/source/Rick_Burr)}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Major General [Tim McOwan](/source/Tim_McOwan)}}
{{s-ttl|title=[Special Operations Commander Australia](/source/Special_Operations_Command_(Australia))|years=2011–2013}}
{{s-aft|after=Brigadier [Daniel McDaniel](/source/Daniel_McDaniel)<br/>(acting)}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gilmore, Gus}}
Category:1962 births
Category:Australian generals
Category:Australian recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
Category:Deakin University alumni
Category:Living people
Category:Officers of the Legion of Merit
Category:Officers of the Order of Australia
Category:People educated at Canberra Grammar School
Category:People educated at Geelong College
Category:Military personnel from Sydney
Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (Australia)
Category:Recipients of the Meritorious Unit Citation
Category:Royal Military College, Duntroon graduates
Category:University of New South Wales alumni
Category:Special Air Service Regiment (Australian) personnel

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Gus Gilmore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gus_Gilmore) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gus_Gilmore?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.