Lieutenant General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...

Gregory Charles Bilton, (born 2 March 1965) is a senior officer in the

Australian Army The Australian Army is the principal land warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Army is commanded by the Chief of Army (CA), wh ...

. He was seconded to the

United States Army Pacific The United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) is an Army Service Component Command (ASCC) designated by the Secretary of the Army (SECARMY); it may also serve as a Joint Task Force headquarters. It is the army component unit of the United States Ind ...

as Deputy Commanding General – Operations from 2014 to 2017, served as Deputy Chief of Joint Operations from 2017 to 2018, and was Commander Forces Command from December 2018 to June 2019. He assumed his current appointment as Chief of Joint Operations on 1 July 2019.

Early life and education

Bilton was born in

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

, Victoria, on 2 March 1965, and educated at

Melbourne High School Melbourne High School is a government-funded single-sex academically selective secondary day school for boys, located in the Melbourne suburb of South Yarra, Victoria, Australia. Established in 1905, the school caters for boys from Year 9 ...

. He is married to Rachel, a registered nurse, and the couple have two adult sons. Bilton holds a Bachelor of Military Studies, a Master of Military Art and Science, and a Master of Strategic Studies. He is also a graduate of the

United States Army Command and General Staff College The United States Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC or, obsolete, USACGSC) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military ...

and the

Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies The Australian Defence College (ADC) comprises three joint education and training organisations operated by the Australian Defence Force in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: * the War College, * the Australian Defence Force Training Cent ...

, and has completed the Long Gunnery Course at the

British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...

Royal School of Artillery The Royal School of Artillery (RSA) is the principal training establishment for artillery warfare in the British Army. Established in 1915, it is located at Larkhill, Wiltshire, on the south edge of Salisbury Plain in the United Kingdom. The Scho ...

Military career

Bilton entered the

Royal Military College, Duntroon lit: Learning promotes strength , established = , type = Military college , chancellor = , head_label = Commandant , head = Brigadier Ana Duncan , principal = , city = Campbell , state ...

, as an

officer cadet Officer Cadet is a rank held by military cadets during their training to become commissioned officers. In the United Kingdom, the rank is also used by members of University Royal Naval Units, University Officer Training Corps and University Ai ...

in 1983. On graduating in 1986, he was commissioned a

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often ...

in the

Royal Australian Artillery The Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery, normally referred to as the Royal Australian Artillery (RAA), is a Regiment of the Australian Army descended from the original colonial artillery units prior to Australia's federation. Australia's first ...

. He subsequently received appointments within the 1st and 4th Regiments, Royal Australian Artillery, the 8th/12th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, and to the School of Artillery. In 1993, Bilton deployed to the

Sinai Peninsula The Sinai Peninsula, or simply Sinai (now usually ) (, , cop, Ⲥⲓⲛⲁ), is a peninsula in Egypt, and the only part of the country located in Asia. It is between the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Red Sea to the south, and is ...

as part of Operation Mazurka, Australia's contribution to the

Multinational Force and Observers The Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) is an international peacekeeping force overseeing the terms of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. The MFO generally operates in and around the Sinai peninsula, ensuring free navigation through ...

. Bilton has commanded the 104th Field Battery and the 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery. In between these appointments, he has served in staff postings with the Directorate of Officer Career Management and the Directorate of Force Structure (Army) within Army Headquarters, and served as a instructor at the

Australian Command and Staff College The Australian Defence College (ADC) comprises three joint education and training organisations operated by the Australian Defence Force in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: * the War College, * the Australian Defence Force Training Ce ...

. In recognition of his "outstanding achievement" in a number of staff appointments, then Lieutenant Colonel Bilton was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in the

2004 Australia Day Honours The 2004 Australia Day Honours are appointments to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by Australian citizens. The list was announced on 26 January 2004 by the Governor General of Australia, Michael Jeffrey. The Austra ...

. In 2008, Bilton was posted to Afghanistan as Deputy Chief of Staff for Security Sector Reform in

Regional Command South In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...

. He was rewarded with the Canadian

Meritorious Service Medal A Meritorious Service Medal is an award presented to denote acts of meritorious service, and sometimes gallantry, that are worthy of recognition. Notable medals with similar names include: * Meritorious Civilian Service Award *Meritorious Service Me ...

for his performance in this position. Following his return to Australia, Bilton was posted as Director General Development and Plans (Army) and later appointed to command the 7th Brigade. Bilton was cited for his "exceptional service" in these roles and was appointed a

Member of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an Order (distinction), honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarchy of Australia, Queen of Aus ...

in the 2014 Queen's Birthday Honours. On 17 November 2014, he was seconded to the

and succeeded fellow Australian, Major General

Rick Burr Lieutenant General Richard Maxwell "Rick" Burr, (born 2 June 1964) is a retired senior officer of the Australian Army, who served as Chief of Army from 2 July 2018 to 1 July 2022. He was previously Commander 1st Division from 2011 to 2012, D ...

, as Deputy Commanding General – Operations. Bilton returned to Australia in 2017, having been awarded the United States Legion of Merit and the Japanese Defence Cooperation Medal for his service with the United States Army, and was posted as Deputy Chief of Joint Operations. He was appointed as Commander Forces Command in December 2018. Bilton was promoted

lieutenant general Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...

in June 2019 and succeeded Air Marshal

Mel Hupfeld Air Marshal Melvin Ernest Glanville Hupfeld, (born 7 March 1962) is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Air Force. He served as Air Commander Australia from 2012 to 2014 and was the acting and final Chief Capability Development Gro ...

as Chief of Joint Operations on 1 July. He was advanced to Officer of the Order of Australia in the

2020 Australia Day Honours The 2020 Australia Day Honours are appointments to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by Australian citizens. The list was announced on 26 January 2020 by the Governor General of Australia, David Hurley. The Australia ...

References

, - , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Bilton, Greg 1965 births Military personnel from Melbourne Australian generals Australian military personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Living people Non-U.S. alumni of the Command and General Staff College Officers of the Legion of Merit Officers of the Order of Australia Recipients of the Conspicuous Service Cross (Australia) Recipients of the Meritorious Service Decoration Royal Military College, Duntroon graduates University of New South Wales alumni