14 Facts About Simone Wilkie

Major General Simone Louise Wilkie, is a retired Australian Army officer who was the Australian Deputy National Commander in the War in Afghanistan in 2011 and 2012.

Simone Wilkie was Assistant Chief of Staff to General David Petraeus during the Iraq War troop surge of 2007, and was the first female Commanding Officer of the Royal Military College, Duntroon and Commandant at the Army Recruit Training Centre at Kapooka.

Simone Wilkie joined the Australian Army in 1983, and attended the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps Officer Cadet School in Georges Heights, New South Wales.

Simone Wilkie has a Bachelor of Social Science in Human Resource Management, a Graduate Diploma in Telecommunications Systems Management, a Graduate Diploma of Strategic Studies, and a Masters of Defence Studies.

Simone Wilkie then became the first female commanding officer of the Royal Military College, Duntroon, and then the first female Commandant at the Army Recruit Training Centre at Kapooka.

Simone Wilkie was in charge of many of the activities at the former, noting that:.

Simone Wilkie was awarded the United States' Bronze Star Medal for her service in Iraq.

In 2008 Simone Wilkie was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours "for exceptional performance of duty in command appointments within Training Command - Army".

In 2011 Simone Wilkie became the Australian National Commander in Afghanistan.

Simone Wilkie's job involved liaising with the commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, General John R Allen.

In late 2014 Simone Wilkie was appointed to the Commission of the Australian Football League, the governing body of Australia's football code.

Simone Wilkie is a patron of the ADF Women's Australian Rules Association and the ADF Hockey Association, and chairs the ADF Sports Council.

Simone Wilkie married Andrew Simone Wilkie, a fellow army officer in 1991.

Simone Wilkie is currently married and lists her leisure activities as home renovation, and playing field hockey and golf.