Justin Ellwood

Major General Justin (‘Jake’) Ellwood assumed command of 1st Division and the Deployable Joint Force Headquarters on 6 December 2018, following his appointment as Deputy Chief of Army. He graduated from the Royal Military College at Duntroon in 1990 into the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. After undertaking regimental appointments in 2nd/4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, he was posted as an instructor at the Royal Military College. He subsequently served as second-in-command of a Warrior Company on a two-year exchange with the Irish Guards in Germany, during which time he deployed to Kosovo. Upon returning to Australia he served as a Company Commander and the Operations Officer in 5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. During this period he commanded a company on operations in Timor-Leste (East Timor). After completing Australian Command and Staff College, he served as the Brigade Major of 1st Brigade and was subsequently posted to Army Headquarters as Director of Reserves—Army.

Major General Ellwood was appointed Commanding Officer of 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, from 2007 to 2008. During this tenure he commanded a light armoured battlegroup in Iraq and a light infantry battlegroup in Timor-Leste (East Timor). He was then posted as the Australian Army's liaison officer to the United States Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia, followed by a three-year posting as Commander of the Combat Training Centre. This was followed by attendance at Higher Defence College in Canberra. Major General Ellwood subsequently deployed to Afghanistan as the Chief of Operations within NATO's Operation Resolute Support Headquarters from 2014 to 2015. Major General Ellwood has served as both Chief of Staff of Headquarters Forces Command and Director General of Career Management—Army.

Major General Ellwood was awarded a Commander British Forces Commendation for his service in Kosovo and a Divisional Commander’s Commendation for his work as the Brigade Major of 1st Brigade. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his command and leadership in Iraq, and a Commendation for Distinguished Service and the United States Legion of Merit (Degree of Officer) for his service in Afghanistan.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Deakin University (with a double major in strategic studies and international relations), a Master of Arts (Strategic Studies) from Deakin University, a Masters of Management (Defence Studies) from the University of Canberra and a Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary) from Monash University. Major General Ellwood is also a graduate of the Oxford Advanced Management and Leadership Program.

Major General Ellwood is married to Nicole. They have two children who are both studying at university. Other than family pursuits, his hobbies include long-distance running, military history, fishing and scuba diving.