Colonel Simon Stuart in Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan, in 2013
Stuart was made Director Coordination – Army in 2011 and, in October 2012, deployed to Afghanistan as commander Combined Team Uruzgan.[3][4][8] The command consisted of personnel from Australia, Singapore and the United States and was tasked with, as Stuart described it, enhancing "the Afghan Government's lead on security, governance and development efforts" in Uruzgan Province. Combined Team Uruzgan, in particular, was to "further the independence" of the Afghan government, people and security forces.[9] Stuart relinquished command to Colonel Wade Stothart in August 2013 and, for his ten months of "distinguished command and leadership" in Afghanistan, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in the 2014 Queen's Birthday Honours.[8][10] He was also awarded the United States Bronze Star Medal.[11]
Major General Gus McLachlan (centre) oversees the transfer of command of Combined Team Uruzgan from Stuart (left) to Colonel Wade Stothart (right) at Multinational Base Tarin Kowt on 7 August 2013.
Stuart was posted to the United States in 2014 as a student at the Army War College. Graduating with a Master of Strategy, he returned to Australia in 2015 as Director General Land Mobility Systems Branch.[2][3][4] In December 2016, the Director General of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO), David M. Satterfield, announced that Stuart had been selected as the peacekeeping force's next Force Commander. Based in the Sinai Peninsula, the MFO had been established in 1981 to supervise the terms of the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel.[12][13] Stuart assumed command of the MFO from Major General Denis Thompson of Canada on 1 March 2017.[14] He was the second Australian, after Major General David Ferguson, to serve as Force Commander of the MFO.[13][15] In the role, Stuart was responsible for more than 1,000 personnel from thirteen countries working to support ongoing security cooperation and resolve disagreements along the Sinai border.[12][16][17]
After more than two and a half years with the MFO, Stuart relinquished command to Major General Evan Williams of New Zealand on 1 December 2019.[16][17][18] In recognition of his service in the Sinai, Stuart was presented with the MFO's Distinguished Service for Peace Award "for his achievements in reorganizing the MFO's structure and processes in Sinai, strengthening its crucial relationships with the Treaty Parties, and increasing consultation with regional UN organizations."[18] Stuart was also awarded the 18 May 1811 Medal from Uruguay,[19] the General Yamazaki Chief of Staff Commendation Award from Japan for his contribution to the first deployment of Japan Self-Defense Forces personnel to the MFO and,[20][21] in the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was advanced to Officer of the Order of Australia. The citation for the latter praised Stuart's "distinguished service and exceptional leadership" during his tenure as Force Commander.[20][22]
In September 2024, Stuart released "Australian Army Contribution to the National Defence Strategy 2024", indicating that army had moved from being a balanced force, to a force focused on operating in littoral zones to Australia's via land, sea and air; and using long-range fires.[28][29]
Personal life
Stuart is married to Katy, with whom he has two children.[3] He is a patron of the Army Drone Racing Team.[2]
^Hetherington, Andrew (27 September 2012). "Taking Over the Lead". Army News. p. 17. Archived from the original on 8 January 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
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