Peter Leahy AC retired from the Australian Army, after a 37-year career, in July 2008 as a Lieutenant General in the position of Chief of Army, a position he held for 6 years.  Prior to this appointment he was the Deputy Chief of Army.

 

Among his qualifications he holds a BA (Military Studies) and a Master of Military Arts and Science. He is a graduate of both the Australian and the United States Army Staff Colleges, a Fellow of the Australian College of Defence and Strategic Studies and a graduate of the British Higher Command and Staff Course.

 

He is currently a Professor and the foundation Director of the National Security Institute at the University of Canberra.  His main passion at the University of Canberra is teaching undergraduates on matters relating to national security and the challenge of modern terrorism.  He also writes and provides media commentary on defence and security issues.

 

In work related to charities he is the Chairman of Soldier On and the Red Shield Advisory Committee in the ACT. He was Chairman of the Australian International Military Games, which brought the Invictus Games to Sydney in 2018. 

 

In work related to government and defence he was a member of the First Principles Review of the Department of Defence, completed a major review into the International Deployment Group of the Australian Federal Police and has advised both the South Australian and Queensland Governments on matters related to strategy, defence and industry issues.

 

Since leaving the Army he has been a director of several publicly listed companies including Codan Pty Ltd, Citadel Group Limited (Chair) and Electro Optic Systems (Chair).  He has now retired from all public Director appointments.

 

Awards

• Companion of the Order of Australia

• Meritorious Service Medal (United States of America)

• Inducted into the U.S Army Command and General Staff College Hall of Fame

• Legion of Merit (Commander) Awarded by the United States Marine Corps

• Meritorious Service Medal (Singapore)

• Medal of Bintang Kartika Eka Paksi Utama (Indonesia)

• Armed Forces Order for Valour (Malaysia)

• Medal of the Royal Order of Sahametrei (Cambodia)

• Ordre National du Merite (France) 

 

Correct as at 02 Oct 23