Major General Ash Collingburn, AM DSM
MAJGEN Collingburn commanded a troop and Squadron in the 2nd Cavalry Regiment and was the Commanding Officer of the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry). While commanding Army’s 1st Brigade during 2020-21, he also led a Joint Task Group in support of the Northern Territory Government’s Covid-19 response.
MAJGEN Collingburn has twice commanded on operations in Iraq: as a combat team commander in 2007 and training team commander in 2015. Other operational service includes Afghanistan and three United Nations peacekeeping operations: East Timor (UNTAET), Lebanon (UNTSO) and Sudan (UNMIS).
MAJGEN Collingburn has twice completed secondments outside of Defence: at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) as a visiting fellow in the Counterterrorism Policy Centre in 2016, and at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in 2022-23.
MAJGEN Collingburn is a graduate of the United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College and School of Advanced Warfighting where he received the Cates Award as the distinguished graduate. He is a Fellow of the Australian War College Defence and Strategic Studies Course, and a Graduate of the US Army Combined Joint Force Land Component Commander Course.
MAJGEN Collingburn holds a Master of Military Studies, a Master of Operational Studies and Grad Dip in Accounting.
In the 2017 Australia Day Honours MAJGEN Collingburn was awarded a Distinguished Service Medal for his leadership in Iraq and in the 2023 King’s Birthday Honours was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia. He was awarded the United States Meritorious Service Medal for his role in the Commander’s Action Group in Afghanistan.
MAJGEN Collingburn assumed command of the 1st (Australian) Division in December 2023.
MAJGEN Collingburn enjoys playing and watching sport, particularly Australian Rules football. He has three young children, Chloe, and twins, Oliver and Ellie.