Alan Beaumont

Admiral Alan Lee Beaumont AC, RAN (24 December 1934 – 21 September 2004) was a senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy, whose career culminated with his appointment as Chief of the Defence Force from 1993 to 1995.

Early life

Alan Lee Beaumont was born on 24 December 1934 in Newcastle, New South Wales. He was educated at Boolaroo Public School and Newcastle Technical High School.^[1]

Military career

Beaumont joined the Royal Australian Naval College in 1948, graduating in 1951.

He trained with the Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy before being promoted to lieutenant in 1956. He completed a Torpedo Anti-Submarine specialist course with the Royal Navy between 1959 and 1960, and later served periods of exchange service with the Royal Navy and United States Navy as a specialist in the field.

As a lieutenant commander, Beaumont served as Executive Officer on HMAS Brisbane during a seven-month Vietnam War tour in 1969.^[2] He was promoted to commander for his service in this position, and posted as Officer-in-Charge HMAS Watson.

Beaumont commanded HMAS Ibis in 1962, HMAS Yarra between 1972 and 1973, and HMAS Vampire between 1978 and 1979.

Staff postings in Canberra followed, including Director of Underwater Weapons, Follow-on Destroyer Project Officer, Director of Naval Plans, Director General Naval Plans and Policy and President of Officers Selection Boards. For his service as Director of Naval Plans, Beaumont was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Australia Day Honours list of 1982.^[3]

Beaumont was appointed Chief of Staff to the Flag Officer Naval Support Command in January 1987, later being promoted to rear admiral in June and assuming the duties of Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Development). He was appointed to the post of Assistant Chief of the Defence Force (Personnel) on 5 December 1988, and appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the 1989 Queen's Birthday Honours list.^[4]

Promoted to vice admiral on 11 September 1989, Beaumont assumed the appointment of Vice Chief of the Defence Force, serving in this position until October 1992. For his distinguished command in this position, Beaumont was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in the Australia Day Honours List of 1992, becoming the first person to receive three awards in the Order of Australia.^[5]

He was promoted to admiral on 17 April 1993 and commenced his appointment as Chief of the Defence Force. Admiral Beaumont retired from the Royal Australian Navy on 6 July 1995.

Later life

Between 2000 and 2003, Beaumont served as President of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of the ACT.

He died on 21 September 2004, after a long battle with cancer. He is survived by his second wife, Justine, and four children from a previous marriage to Noreen, who had widowed him.^[1]

Honours and awards

	Companion of the Order of Australia (AC)	(1992)[5][6]
	Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)	(1989)[4][6]
	Member of the Order of Australia (AM)	(1982)[3][6]
	Australian Active Service Medal 1945–1975	With 1 clasp[6]
	Vietnam Medal	[6]
	Australian Service Medal 1945–1975	With 1 clasp[6]
	Centenary Medal	2001[7][6]
	Defence Force Service Medal with Federation Star (5 clasps)	(40–44 years service)[6]
	National Medal with 2 clasps	[8][9][6]
	Vietnam Campaign Medal	[6]
	Unidentified Foreign Cross	[6]
	Unidentified Foreign Cross	[6]

References

External links

• Air Force Newspaper – Funeral for former CDF
• The Multiple Sclerosis Society of the ACT – Announcement of Beaumont's death
• Official photo

Chiefs of the Defence Force
Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee	Sir Henry Wells Sir Roy Dowling Sir Frederick Scherger Sir John Wilton Sir Victor Smith Francis Hassett
Chief of Defence Force Staff	Sir Francis Hassett Sir Arthur MacDonald Sir Anthony Synnot Sir Neville McNamara Sir Phillip Bennett
Chief of the Defence Force	Sir Phillip Bennett Peter Gration Alan Beaumont John Baker Chris Barrie Peter Cosgrove Angus Houston David Hurley Mark Binskin

Vice Chiefs of the Defence Force
Vice Chief of the Defence Force	Ray Funnell Ian Knox Alan Beaumont John Baker Robert Walls Chris Barrie Douglas Riding Desmond Mueller Russ Shalders Ken Gillespie David Hurley Mark Binskin Ray Griggs