1. Gus Gilmore commanded the Special Air Service Regiment, led the first contingent of the Australian Special Operations Task Group in Afghanistan, was responsible for the Coalition Advisory Support Team in Iraq, and commanded International Security Assistance Force Special Operations Forces.
Peter Warwick Gilmore was born on 31 January 1962 in Sydney, New South Wales, the youngest of three children to Ian George Charles Gilmore and Alison Shirley Gilmore.
Ian Gus Gilmore was an officer in the Australian Army who saw service in the Second World War, Korean War and Vietnam War, and rose to the rank of brigadier.
Gus Gilmore was educated at Canberra Grammar School and later Geelong College in Victoria, graduating in 1978.
Gus Gilmore graduated from Duntroon with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the affiliated University of New South Wales, and was commissioned a lieutenant in the Royal Australian Infantry Corps on 14 December 1983.
Gus Gilmore later read for a Master of Arts in International Relations at Deakin University.
Gus Gilmore is a graduate of the Royal Military College of Science in the United Kingdom, the Australian Army Command and Staff College, the Australian Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies, and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
In 1988, Gus Gilmore passed selection and was appointed to the Special Air Service Regiment.
The squadrons' achievements were recognised with the Meritorious Unit Citation, while Gus Gilmore was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the United States Bronze Star Medal.
In 2003, Gus Gilmore was posted to Australian Army Headquarters in Canberra as Director of Strategy and International Engagement.
Gus Gilmore was after seconded to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, where he spent eighteen months working in the National Security Division.
Gus Gilmore's work supported coalition operations in the Iraq War, including those of the Australian forces deployed on Operation Catalyst; he was awarded the Officer of the Legion of Merit from the United States government for his services in the role.
Gus Gilmore 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.
Gus Gilmore was selected to command the Special Operations Forces assigned to the International Security Assistance Force, and redeployed to Afghanistan to take up the role in October 2009.
In November 2012, Gus Gilmore represented the Australian Army and Special Operations Command during the reinterment of two Australian soldiers at Port Moresby War Cemetery.
Gus Gilmore was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2013 Queen's Birthday Honours.
Gus Gilmore occupied the role for sixteen months, before being appointed Commander Forces Command on 23 January 2015.