Major General Rick Burr was born in Renmark, South Australia in 1964 and attended the Royal Military College, Duntroon from 1982 to 1985. He served initially as an Infantry platoon commander before continuing his regimental service in Special Forces.

     Major General Burr’s extensive command and operational experience includes command of the Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment, and command of the Australian Special Forces Task Groups in Afghanistan (2002) and for the invasion of Iraq (2003). In 2008 he was the inaugural Commander of ISAF SOF, comprising all Special Forces assigned to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. In January 2011 he assumed command of the 1st Division and Australia’s Deployable Joint Force HQ.

     Major General Burr has held a number of key staff appointments, including the Military Assistant to the Chief of Army, the Director General of Preparedness and Plans for the Army, a senior adviser in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the Director General of Military Strategic Commitments in Defence Headquarters.

     Major General Burr’s training appointments have been as an instructor at the Royal Military College, Duntroon and as the Chief Instructor of the Australian Defence Force Warfare Centre. In a key representational appointment, Major General Burr was privileged to be the Equerry to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for the 2000 Royal Visit to Australia.

     Major General Burr is a Distinguished Graduate of the United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College and a graduate of the USMC School of Advanced Warfighting. He has a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Military Studies. His personal awards include the Distinguished Service Cross, Member of the Order of Australia, Member of the Royal Victorian Order and the US Bronze Star Medal. He is currently Patron of the Defence Australian Rules Football Association.

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