Anthony (Tony) Rawlins recently joined KBR as Director of Strategy, following 39 years of service as a senior leader in the Australian Defence Force.
Tony began his career with the Australian Army in 1986, progressing through the wider Defence organisation in a number of key command, staff and representational appointments.
As a Cavalry Officer in the Army, he commanded at all levels culminating in his role as Commander of the 7th Combat Brigade. He has deployed on coalition operations to Iraq and Afghanistan and participated in United Nations Peacekeeping missions in the Middle East.
In his most recent strategic appointments, Tony spent three years as Deputy Chief of the Australian Army and then three years as Head of Force Design, within the Vice Chief of Defence Force Group. As Head of Force Design, he led the development of the 2024 Integrated Investment Plan for Defence, the capability acquisition plan to implement government direction following the 2023 Defence Strategic Review and the 2024 National Defence Strategy.
Tony was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2019 Australia Day Honours. He was later advanced to an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours for distinguished service in responsible positions as the Deputy Chief of Army and Head of Force Design Division.
KBR helps ensure mission success on land, air, sea, space and cyberspace for its customers. KBR’s areas of expertise include engineering, logistics, operations, science, program management, mission IT and cybersecurity. For more than 60 years, KBR has successfully supported delivery of some of Australia’s most complex and largest nation building projects.
The Defence Strategic Review and National Defence Strategy demanded significant change for Defence in its force design, capability acquisition and project management methodologies. Degenerating geostrategic circumstances coupled with exponential rates of technological development led to an assessment that pre-existing processes would falter in the clarion call for greater ‘speed to capability.’ This presentation will give an insight into the breadth of that challenge, assess Defence’s initial response and offer a perspective as to what improvements could and should be expected as part of the new biennial strategic review process.
The Defence Strategic Review and National Defence Strategy demanded significant change for Defence in its force design, capability acquisition and project management methodologies. Degenerating geostrategic circumstances coupled with exponential rates of technological development led to an assessment that pre-existing processes would falter in the clarion call for greater ‘speed to capability.’ This presentation will give an insight into the breadth of that challenge, assess Defence’s initial response and offer a perspective as to what improvements could and should be expected as part of the new biennial strategic review process.
