Major General Richard Vagg DSC
Major General Vagg took up the appointment as Head Land Capability for the Australian Army in February 2023.
Major General Vagg’s work in capability development combined with his regimental, operational and staff appointments have provided him with a broad exposure to the Defence and Whole-of-Government enterprise. He enjoys the challenges of modernising Defence and setting the conditions to create a more resilient and lethal Australian Defence Force.
Born and educated in country Queensland, he joined the Army in 1992, graduating from the Royal Military College – Duntroon in 1993 to the Royal Australian Artillery. He has enjoyed an exciting career with regimental experience at the 4th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment and on exchange with 40 Regiment (AS-90), Royal Artillery. He was also the inaugural Commanding Officer of 16 Air Land Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery.
His training experience includes appointments at the School of Artillery and Duntroon, while his staff experience includes appointments at the British Defence Intelligence Staff, the Defence Intelligence Organisation, and Modernisation and Strategic Plans – Army. He was MA to Commander Forces Command and the Director of Military Art, Royal Military College – Duntroon. More recently, served as Director General Systems and Integration – Army in Land Capability Division and Director General Air Land Combat Analysis, Contestability Division, in the Strategic Policy and Industry Group. In 2022, Major General Vagg was seconded to the Defence Strategic Review as co-author and the lead military Director General.
Major General Vagg has operational experience in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. His most recent deployment was as Commander Task Group Taji, Rotation Four in Iraq for which he received the Distinguished Service Cross in the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honours. In the 2012 Australia Day Honours, he received a Commendation for Distinguished Service for his work as the inaugural Commanding Officer of the Artillery Training Team – Kabul. As an artillery forward observer in Kosovo, he was awarded a Commander Multi-National Brigade (Central) Commendation for his role in several operations.
He is a graduate of the Australian Command and Staff College, the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies, and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Major General Vagg holds a Master of Arts – Management and Strategy from the University of New South Wales and a Master of Business Administration from Deakin University. Whilst studying at the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies, he received the Field Marshal Sir Thomas Blamey Award.
He is the Patron of the Australian Army Rugby Union.
Major General Vagg is married to Charlotte. He is a keen spectator of most sports, but a passionate Queensland Reds and Brisbane Broncos supporter. He rows to relax, and enjoys spending time improving their hobby farm.