Dennis Richardson (diplomat)

Dennis Richardson AO
Richardson, pictured as the Australian Ambassador to the United States
Secretary of the Department of Defence
Incumbent
Assumed office 18 October 2012
Preceded by	Duncan Lewis
Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
In office January 2010 – 18 October 2012
Preceded by	Michael L'Estrange
Succeeded by	Peter Varghese
Australian Ambassador to the United States
In office 2005–2010
Preceded by	Michael Thawley
Succeeded by	Kim Beazley
10th Director-General of Security
In office 11 October 1996 – 27 May 2005
Prime Minister	John Howard
Preceded by	David Sadleir
Succeeded by	Paul O'Sullivan
Personal details
Born	Dennis James Richardson 14 May 1947 Kempsey, New South Wales
Nationality	Australian
Spouse(s)	Betty Richardson
Alma mater	University of Sydney (BA hons)
Profession	Diplomat public servant

Dennis James Richardson AO (born 14 May 1947 in Kempsey, New South Wales)^[1] is an Australian public servant and former diplomat. Richardson is currently the Secretary of the Department of Defence, since 18 October 2012.

Background and career

Richardson attended The University of Sydney where he received a Bachelor of Arts with Honours (1965–68).^[2] He started his Australian Public Service career in the Department of External Affairs in 1969.^[3]

In the Australian foreign service, Richardson was a Principal Adviser to the Prime Minister, and Head of the Review of the Intelligence Community. He held various roles in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, was a Deputy Secretary at the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1993–96), and Director-General of Security of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation from October 1996.

He was previously Australian Ambassador to the United States of America (2005–10) and Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (2010–12).^[4] While Australian Ambassador to the US, he visited all 50 states; instead of flying to all the states—except for Hawaii—he and his wife drove. In just about every place, he says they were made welcome by the American people.^[5]

In 2003, Richardson was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for service to the community in a range of public policy areas including foreign policy, immigration and security.^[6]

Personal

Richardson is married to Betty, and has two children.^[2]

References

1. "Mr Dennis J Richardson AO – Ambassador to United States of America". Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 13 June 2008.
2. The Great APS Graduate Debate 2011 (PDF), 2 August 2011, p. 7, archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2014
3. Flitton, Daniel (16 January 2010). "Bureaucratic heavyweights from Class of '69". The Age (Fairfax Media). p. 3. Archived from the original on 31 January 2015.
4. Kerr, Christian (13 August 2008). "Dennis Richardson to DFAT as Rudd purges public service posts". The Australian.
5. "Aussie diplomat makes U.S. road trip". Washington Times. 1 July 2009.
6. "RICHARDSON, Dennis James: Officer of the Order of Australia". It's an Honour. Commonwealth of Australia. 9 June 2003. Retrieved 28 October 2013.

External links

• DFAT biography