Thirty-five UNSW Canberra alumni have received an honour for exemplary service and dedication in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours List.
Thirty-five UNSW Canberra alumni have received an honour for exemplary service and dedication in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours List.
The honours were announced on 8 June by the Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC.
“Our honours system recognises outstanding people who contribute so much to Australia. In our communities, in workplaces and across the country, recipients have made an exceptional contribution to Australia,” the Governor-General said.
“The work of our award recipients, and the contributions of the thousands of Australians who have been recognised throughout the history of our honours system, is something we can take great pride in celebrating.”
The UNSW Canberra alumni who received honours are:
Lieutenant Colonel Richard James Adamson was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) for outstanding achievement in advancing tactical communications and developing warfighting-focused communicators. Read full citation.
Captain Bernadette Leon Alexander RAN was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) for outstanding achievement in the fields of Navy Capability, Shipbuilding and Sustainment. Read full citation.
Commander Kate Elizabeth Alston RAN was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for meritorious service to the Australian Defence Force in personnel support roles. Read full citation.
Major Brenton Matthew Chapman was awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM) for meritorious achievement as the Officer Commanding 35th Water Transport Squadron and contribution to Project Land 8710 Littoral Manoeuvre Program. Read full citation.
Major Joshua Simon Clarke was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) for outstanding achievement in command and space capability development as Officer Commanding Number 74 Squadron. Read full citation.
Mr Roderick Cooke was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the community through a range of organisations. Read full citation.
Major Craig Fairweather was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for meritorious service in military engineering for the Australian Army. Read full citation.
Lieutenant Colonel Timothy John Farrell was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) for outstanding achievement as the lead contingency campaign planner at Headquarters Joint Operations Command. Read full citation.
Lieutenant Colonel Michael William Finch was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) for outstanding devotion to duty as Chief Operations Officer, United Nations Disengagement Observer Force whilst deployed on Operation FORTITUDE. Read full citation.
Lieutenant Commander Kym Desmond Fisher was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to rowing as a coach. Read full citation.
Squadron Leader Charles Griffiths Goodacre was awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM) for meritorious achievement in the development of maritime strike integrated tactical procedures in support of National Defence Strategy objectives. Read full citation.
Major Christopher Raymond Grimes was awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM) for meritorious devotion to duty as a United Nations Military Observer deployed on Operation PALADIN from January 2024 to January 2025. Read full citation.
Brigadier Shaun James Hoffman was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for exceptional performance of duty as Director General Land Manoeuvre Systems. Read full citation.
Warrant Officer Bradley Valentine Lahey was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for exceptional service as a Command Warrant Officer in the Royal Australian Navy. Read full citation.
Lieutenant Colonel Jason Peter Long was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) for outstanding achievement in tactical logistics design and enabling 3rd Brigade’s transformation to an Armoured Formation. Read full citation.
Captain Jorge Mathew McKee CSM RAN was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) for outstanding achievement in the application of extraordinary skill and judgement as Commander Combined Task Force 153 from October 2024 to April 2025. Read full citation.
Lieutenant Colonel Ryan James Mitchell was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) for outstanding achievement as a senior Staff Officer in Joint Operations Command and Commanding Officer of Task Force 12 on Operation OKRA from January 2023 to November 2024. Read full citation.
Wing Commander Peter James Mole was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) for outstanding achievement as the Commanding Officer of Number 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit. Read full citation.
Commodore Paul James O’Grady DSM CSM RAN was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for exceptional service to the Royal Australian Navy in senior leadership positions. Read full citation.
Brigadier Timothy Peter Orders was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for exceptional service as an Officer in the Australian Army over various positions. Read full citation.
Group Captain Martin Thomas Parker was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for exceptional service as Commanding Officer Number 75 Squadron and his role in the development of agile operations and battle worthiness. Read full citation.
Flight Lieutenant Tobias David Peach was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for meritorious service as a High Frequency Radar and Space Surveillance Subject Matter Expert within the Australian Defence Force. Read full citation.
Group Captain Mark William Powell was awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM) for outstanding achievement and dedication in workforce modelling, simulation and planning to deliver the optimal people element of capability for the Royal Australian Air Force. Read full citation.
Lieutenant Colonel Mark Damien Ripper was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) for outstanding achievement in the development of Littoral Manoeuvre capabilities in the Australian Army. Read full citation.
Captain Christopher Richard Searle RAN was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) for outstanding achievement as the Director Navy Strategic Logistics. Read full citation.
Lieutenant Commander David Ross Sinclair RAN was awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM) for meritorious devotion to duty in the capability assurance and upgrade of the Australian Defence Force’s fleet of MH-60R Seahawk helicopters. Read full citation.
Lieutenant Colonel Brooke Idoline Steele was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) for outstanding achievement as the principal staff officer for logistics within Headquarters 2nd (Australian) Division and Commanding Officer 8th Operational Support Unit. Read full citation.
Lieutenant Colonel Scott David Thomas CSC was awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM) for meritorious devotion to duty in providing workforce behaviour analytics to Army’s units, formations and commands. Read full citation.
Wing Commander Alan Ross Turner was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for meritorious service in the development of health capability for the Royal Australian Air Force. Read full citation.
Major General Richard Anthony Vagg DSC was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service as the lead military Director General for the Defence Strategic Review and as Head Land Capability. Read full citation.
Lieutenant Commander Robert Scott Varian RAN (Retd) was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for meritorious service as a Submarine Acoustic Intelligence Specialist and Intelligence Officer while deployed on Operation VIGILANCE. Read full citation.
Commodore Jan Elizabeth Wiltshire CSC and Bar RAN was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for exceptional service in delivering strategic personnel capability for the Australian Defence Force. Read full citation.
Wing Commander Todd Matthew Woodford was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for exceptional service in the advancement of Australia’s airborne electronic attack and long-range strike capabilities. Read full citation.
Commander David Anthony Wright RAN was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for meritorious service in the field of Naval Mine Warfare. Read full citation.
Wing Commander Leigh Wrighton-Jones was awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM) for meritorious achievement in capability acquisition, sustainment and test of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Read full citation.