John Jensen (public servant)

John Jensen was born in Bendigo, Victoria on 20 March 1884.^[1]

He joined the Commonwealth Public Service in 1901, the year of Australia's federation and the year the service was first established.^[1]

In 1920, Jensen visited the United States on rifle-manufacturing business, and he went on to study factory administration in England and in the United States.^[2]

In January 1942, Jensen was appointed Secretary of the Department of Munitions.^[3][4] During his time as permanent head of the Munitions department, he was a member of the Allied Supply Standing Committee and the executive of the Allied Supply Council.^[5] In the role, he played a leading part in organizing munitions supply during World War II.^[6] His department was abolished in 1948 during scaling down after the end of world war II.^[5] At this time, Jensen was moved to head the Department of Supply and Development.^[7] In his role at the Department of Supply and Development, he found himself frequently journeying to South Australia, including to visit the Woomera Rocket Range, and in connection to uranium mining.^[8]

Jensen retired in 1949.^[9] Immediately after retirement he took work as a member of the Commonwealth Immigration Planning Council.^[5]

On 17 February 1970, Jensen died in Hawthorn, Melbourne.^[1]

In 1938, Jensen was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.^[10] In the 1950 Birthday Honours he was made a Knight Bachelor, for services to munitions production.^[11]

In December 1969, the Victorian headquarters of the Department of Supply was named Jensen House in his honour.^[1]