Ian Gordon (general)
Australian general
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Major General Ian Campbell Gordon, AO (born 20 March 1952) is a retired senior officer of the Australian Army. He had a long and distinguished career culminating as Deputy Chief of Army (2004–2006) and Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (2006–2008).
Ian Gordon | |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 March 1952 Perth, Western Australia |
| Allegiance | Australia |
Branch | Australian Army |
Service years | 1970–2009 |
Rank | Major General |
| Commands | United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (2006–09) Deputy Chief of Army (2004–06) Training Command (2002–04) Australian Command and Staff College (1998–99) 1st Signal Regiment (1990–91) |
Conflicts | Western Sahara East Timor United Nations Truce Supervision Organization |
| Awards | Officer of the Order of Australia |
Early life and education
Ian Campbell Gordon[1] was born in Perth, Western Australia, on 20 March 1952 to Glenice Pascoe and Ivor Gordon,[2][better source needed] a decorated bomber pilot who flew with No. 455 Squadron RAAF in the Second World War.[3][4]
Educated at Swanbourne High School, Gordon entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon as an officer cadet in 1970. He graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science in Military Studies, and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Royal Australian Corps of Signals.[2]
Military career
Gordon graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon,[5] in 1973 and was commissioned into the Royal Australian Corps of Signals.[1][5] He graduated from the Royal Military College of Science in Shrivenham, United Kingdom, in 1983,[1] and from the Australian Command and Staff College in 1985.[1]
By 1990, Gordon was posted to command the 1st Signals Regiment in Brisbane.[5] The following year, he was made commander of the Australian Service Contingent to the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).[5] For his command of the 1st Signals Regiment and work with MINURSO, Gordon was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1992.[5] In 1993, Gordon was named Director of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals.[5] He graduated from the Australian Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies in 1996 and,[1] in 1998, was appointed Commandant of the Australian Command and Staff College.[1] He was appointed Director-General Personnel – Army in 2000,[5] and Director-General, Future Land Warfare in 2001.[5] That September, he was promoted to major general and appointed Deputy Force Commander in the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET).[6]
Gordon returned to Australia in 2002 and was appointed Commander, Training Command – Army.[6] He became Deputy Chief of Army in May 2004,[6] and was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for his distinguished service to the Australian Defence Force in senior command and staff appointments in January 2006.[6] In November the same year, he was appointed Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO).[1]
Other activities
After retirement, Gordon has owned and managed a small publishing business, Barrallier Books (delisted 2020), which had a focus on deluxe books and fine writing.[citation needed]
In the early 2020s, Gordon was patron of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network.[7] Mashni became president in January 2023.[8]
Personal
Gordon married Ula and they have three children. His hobbies include scuba diving and restoring cars.[5]