Deputy Chief of Staff Strategic Partnering, International Security Assistance Force

Ash Power graduated in 1978 from the Royal Military College into the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery. Following his promotion to the rank of Major General, he was appointed as the Commander of the 1st Division and Deployable Joint Force Headquarters from 15 July 2005 until 6 July 2007. From July 2007 until January 2009, Major General Power held the appointment of Commander Training Command – Army. He was appointed Head Military Strategic Commitments on 14 January 2009 and in March 2010 was appointed the Deputy Chief of Staff Strategic Partnering, International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, Afghanistan.

In November 2008 Major General Power deployed to Bougainville on Operation BELISI as Chief of Staff and in September 1999 deployed as the Colonel Operations for INTERFET in East Timor. From June 2004 to July 2005 Major General Power was appointed as Director, Combined Planning Group, US Central Command, Tampa, Fla., for which he was awarded the United States Legion of Merit.

Major General Power is a graduate of the Royal Thai Army Command and General Staff College, and the Australian Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies. As a graduate of the University of New South Wales he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Military Studies in 1978. While at the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies in 2004 he completed a Master of Arts (Strategic Studies), and in 2008 he successfully completed the Company Directors Course through the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).

In 1998 he was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross for service as the Commanding Officer of the 4th Field Regiment.

Major General Power was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2006 for his exceptional service to the Australian Defence Force as Defence Attache Thailand, Commander 1st Brigade, and as Director United States Central Command Combined Planning Group, Tampa.

He and his wife Narelle have two daughters and two grandchildren. His leisure interests include reading, current affairs and sport, particularly playing golf and supporting the Sydney Swans.