Jump to content

Peter Abigail

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Abraham, B.S. (talk | contribs) at 12:01, 20 June 2016 (tweaks/corrections + remove flags from infobox per WP:INFOBOXFLAG). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Peter John Abigail
Born (1948-04-06) 6 April 1948 (age 76)
Sydney, New South Wales
AllegianceAustralia
Service / branchAustralian Army
Years of service1965–2002
RankMajor General
CommandsLand Commander Australia (2000–02)
Deputy Chief of Army (1998–00)
3rd Brigade (1993–94)
3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1986–87)
Battles / warsVietnam War
Operation Lagoon
AwardsOfficer of the Order of Australia

Major General Peter John Abigail AO (born 6 April 1948) is a retired Australian Army officer who held a number of senior commands, including Deputy Chief of Army (1998–2000) and Land Commander Australia (2000–2002). Following retirement from the Australian Defence Force, he became Head of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) in April 2005. He also served as a member of the three-man Ministerial Advisory Panel for the 2009 Defence White Paper.[1]

Early life

Abigail was born on 6 April 1948 in Sydney, New South Wales, to William Henry Abigail and his wife Catherine (née McPhail).[2]

Army career

Abigail spent 37 years in the army. Following promotion to major general in December 1996, he served in a range of senior leadership appointments.[1]

As Assistant Chief of the Defence Force (Policy and Strategic Guidance) and then Head Strategic Policy and Plans (Australian Defence Headquarters) (1996–1998) he was responsible for key aspects of Defence policy, military strategy and capability development.[1]

As Deputy Chief of Army (1998–2000) he was responsible for managing the army and its interaction with other Defence stakeholders.[1]

In his final appointment, as Land Commander Australia (2000–2002), he commanded all of the army's operational forces, full-time and reserves, including those that were committed to operations in East Timor, Bougainville and Afghanistan.[1]

Abigail retired from the army in 2002.

Post-military

In 2003, Abigail formed a private company, Peter Abigail & Associates Pty Limited, specialising in strategic consultancy services. He joined the Australian Strategic Policy Institute as director in April 2005.[1]

Honours and awards

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Defence White Paper 2009 – Biographies". Department of Defence. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  2. ^ Singh 2010
  3. ^ Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), 26 January 2000, It's an Honour
  4. ^ National Medal, 24 July 1981, It's an Honour

References

Military offices
Preceded by
Major General John Hartley
Land Commander Australia
2000–2002
Succeeded by
Major General David Hurley
Preceded by
Major General John Hartley
Deputy Chief of Army
1998–2000
Succeeded by
Major General Peter Leahy