Biography – 8248311 Lieutenant Colonel Roland Leslie Spackman, RAINF
I am a graduate of the Australian Defence Force Academy, the Royal Military College, Duntroon, and the Australian Command and Staff College (Joint). On commissioning from the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 2004, I was allocated the Royal Australian Infantry Corps and posted to the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (Parachute). I am a broadly experienced infantry officer, having served in Parachute, Standard, and now Mechanized Infantry Battalions as well as filling staff and training appointments within the Australian, British, and United States Armies.
Regimental. Most recently I was posted as a planner in Military Strategic Plans (MSP) in VDF Executive. Prior to this I was Brigade Major of the 3rd Brigade in 2017-18. Before Staff College I served as the Operations Officer of the 5th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (5 RAR) in 2015, having commanded Bravo Company in 2014. Previous regimental experience has included appointments as a platoon commander, mortar line officer, mortar platoon commander and rifle company second-in-command at 3 RAR and Adjutant of both the School of Infantry (SOI) and 5 RAR.
Training. I have been posted as an officer training instructor at both the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in 2010, where I was employed as a small group instructor and package master, and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, United Kingdom, where I was the Australian Exchange Officer in 2011-12.
Academic. My academic achievements include a Bachelor of Arts (major in English with minors in English and Indonesian) from University Campus of UNSW at ADFA and a Master’s Degree with Distinction in Defence and Strategic Studies from the Australian National University. Most recently I attended the Basic Strategic Art Program at the United States Army War College in late 2018, qualifying as a Functional Area 59 Strategist, before taking up my appointment as a strategic planner in MSP Division.
Operational Service. I served as a rifle platoon commander with the Ready Battle Group on Operation ANODE in the Solomon Islands in 2006. I served on Operation SLIPPER in Afghanistan in 2009 with the Election Task Force. In 2014 I was the Officer Commanding Rifle Company Butterworth Rotation 105 in Malaysia, and in 2017 I was the Chief of Staff for Joint Task Force 661 during Operation QUEENSLAND ASSIST in the wake of Cyclone Debbie. Most recently I was seconded to Home Affairs to assist their planners develop the Department’s response to COVID 19.
Aspirations. I assumed command of the 7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment in January 2021. I intend to remain within the Command, Leadership and Management Pathway and aspire to command a combat brigade. I am also well suited to staff appointments within the Plans, Policy, and Strategy Pathway, supporting the development of strategic policy and future force structure and posture.
Personal. I am unmarried and have no children and enjoy spending my time travelling, hunting, playing rugby, skiing, and generally enjoying the great outdoors.