12 Facts About Len Eacott

Leonard Sidney Eacott was born on 14 June 1947 and is a retired Australian Anglican bishop, army chaplain and military officer, who served as Anglican Bishop to the Australian Defence Force from 2007 to 2012.

Len Eacott was born in Toowoomba and grew up in regional Queensland.

Len Eacott enlisted in the Royal Australian Infantry Corps of the Citizens Military Forces in November 1966, and from 1968 to 1972 fulfilled a national service commitment.

In early 1972, Len Eacott was commissioned as a General Service Officer in the Army Reserve, serving with 25 Battalion, the Royal Queensland Regiment and the Queensland University Regiment.

Len Eacott was employed as a soil conservation field officer by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries until commencing training for Anglican ministry in 1980.

Len Eacott is a graduate of St Francis' Theological College and the University of Queensland and initially served in rural and city parish ministry and part-time army chaplaincy with the Army Reserve in Southern Queensland before transferring to full-time chaplaincy with the Royal Australian Army Chaplains' Department.

Len Eacott served as Senior Chaplain to the Logistic Support Force and Command Chaplain to Land Headquarters in Sydney.

On 1 March 2002, Len Eacott was collated as archdeacon to the Australian Army and on 18 November 2002 was appointed as principal chaplain to the Australian Army, a position which he held until 21 January 2007.

Len Eacott retired from the Australian Regular Army on 15 June 2007.

In May 2007, Len Eacott was appointed by the Primate of the Anglican Church and Chief of the Defence Force as Anglican Bishop to the Australian Defence Force, replacing Bishop Tom Frame.

Len Eacott was consecrated as bishop and installed on 29 June 2007.

Len Eacott retired on 31 December 2012 after reaching the retirement age of 65 years and was succeeded by Bishop Ian Lambert.