GILLESPIE Kenneth James
professional soldier 1952-

Born in Brisbane, he was educated at Inala State High School, then enlisted in the army as an apprentice in 1968. He graduated from the Officer Cadet School Portsea in 1972, was commissioned into the the Australian Staff Corps and allotted to Royal Australian Engineers.

He held a range of regimental and staff appointments, including: instructor appointments at the School of Military Engineering and 1st Recruit Training Battalion; regimental appointments as a captain and major in the 2nd, 5th, and 2nd/3rd Field Engineer Regiments and the 1st Construction Regiment; company commander at the Army Apprentices School; and Senior Instructor at the School of Military Engineering.

During 1986 and 1987 he was the Australian Exchange Instructor at the Royal School of Military Engineering in the United Kingdom. In 1989 he was 2ic and operations officer 2nd Australian Contingent to the UN Transition Assistance Group in Namibia.

In 1985 he attended the Australian Command and Staff College, Queenscliff; in 1991 the Australian Joint Services Staff College; and 1998 the Royal College of Defence Studies.

Senior appointments have included: CO 3 Combat Engr Regt, Staff Officer Operations to CDF, commander Australian Theatre Joint Intelligence Centre, and the Principal Staff Officer-Intelligence, HQ Australian Theatre. Promoted to brigadier as Chief of Staff Training Command, he then commanded the UN Sector West Multinational Brigade in East Timor, and National Commander of Australia's contribution to Operation Enduring Freedom.

Appointed Land Commander Australia in January 2004, he was then promoted to lieutenant general as Vice Chief of the Defence Force in 2005, and assumed the appointment of Chief of Army in 2008.

He is married to Carmel and they have a student daughter. He has two grown children from a previous marriage. He is well travelled, enjoys most sports, particularly golf, and is a keen reader.