Jim Furner Explained

Honorific-Prefix:Brigadier
Jim Furner
Office:Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service
Term Start:27 February 1984
Term End:24 November 1992
Primeminister:Bob Hawke
Paul Keating
Predecessor:John Ryan
Successor:Rex Stevenson
Birth Date:1927 11, df=y
Birth Place:Warragul, Victoria
Death Place:Terrigal, New South Wales
Nationality:Australian
Alma Mater:University of Melbourne
Allegiance:Australia
Branch:Australian Army
Serviceyears:1952–1982
Rank:Brigadier
Commands:Australian Army Intelligence Centre (1969–70)
Battles:Vietnam War
Mawards:Officer of the Order of Australia
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Medal

Brigadier James Osmond Furner, (25 November 1927 – 17 September 2007) was an Australian military intelligence officer, who was the longest serving Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) from 1984 to 1992.

Military career

After completing a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Melbourne and working as a school teacher, Furner embarked on a career change and enlisted in the Australian Army, becoming one of the first cadets to be trained at the Officer Cadet School, Portsea. On completion of his training, Furner joined the Royal Australian Infantry Corps where he was posted overseas with the 1st Commonwealth Division in South Korea from 1955 to 1956.[1]

In 1982, Furner joined the Joint Intelligence Organisation as deputy director, and retired from the army to take the civilian post of director a few months later.[1]

Australian Secret Intelligence Service

In February 1984, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Bill Hayden, asked Furner to take the role of Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service in an acting capacity.[2] The appointment was made permanent in late July 1985 and Furner served in the role until November 1992.[1]

Notes and References

  1. http://ada.asn.au/commentary/ada-publications/defender-national-journal/obituaries/brigadier-jim-furner.pdf Vale Brigadier James Osmond Furner, AO, CBE, DSM (Retd)
  2. News: White. Hugh. New director-general for ASIS. 20 May 2015. The Sydney Morning Herald. 30 July 1985.