Lieutenant Colonel Levon ‘Von’ Lambert Lieutenant Colonel Lambert graduated from the Australian Defence Force Academy in 2004 after completing undergraduate studies. He entered the Royal Australian Infantry Corps in 2005 after graduating from the Royal Military College – Duntroon. He has eight years of regimental and command experience in 7 RAR as a platoon commander, company commander, adjutant, and operations officer. Post-United States Marine Corps (USMC) Staff College, his service includes positions as a strategic planner in Army headquarters and operational planner for Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR).
Lieutenant Colonel Lambert has deployed five times to the Middle East Region – inclusive of four tours in force elements from 7 RAR and as a planner in a US corps headquarters. Initially serving in Afghanistan as a platoon commander in Bravo Company in 2006-07 and again as a platoon commander in Alpha Company in Iraq in 2008; he later returned to Afghanistan as adjutant of the 7 RAR Task Group (ATF-1) in 2012-13. In 2016, he deployed again to Iraq as the operations officer for Task Group Taji supporting Iraqi Army Brigades in readying for their attack on ISIS-held Mosul. In 2020-21 he deployed again to Iraq as Plans Chief in CJTF-OIR.
Lieutenant Colonel Lambert had two postings as a Captain which shape his approach to training – an Observer-Trainer at the Combat Training Centre and the Mechanised Officer Instructor at the School of Armour. Both experiences reinforced the importance of investing in Army’s people to foster combined arms proficiency and the fundamentals behind difficult, realistic, and safe live-fire training.
Attending USMC Command & Staff College in 2017-18, Lieutenant Colonel Lambert completed a Master of Military Studies; he was awarded Distinguished Graduate status and the Hammett Prize. His published thesis examined case studies on armies transitioning from armoured personnel carriers to infantry fighting vehicles with resultant effects on force structures and training. The following year, he completed a Master of Operational Studies at the School of Advanced Warfighting (SAW) and was awarded the Krulak Prize. He is currently a PhD candidate at UNSW.
Lieutenant Colonel Lambert is married to Katherine, a serving Air Force officer. He has two children, Matilda (10), and Georgette (5); he enjoys spending time with his family and watching Rugby Union. He has completed the USMC Marathon in Washington DC.