Background
Alan Lee Beaumont was born on 24 December 1934 in Newcastle, New South Wales.
Alan Lee Beaumont was born on 24 December 1934 in Newcastle, New South Wales.
He was educated at Boolaroo Public School and Newcastle Technical High School. He completed a Torpedo Anti-Submarine specialist course with the Royal Navy between 1959 and 1960, and later served periods of exchange service with the Royal Navy and United States Navy as a specialist in the field
Beaumont joined the Royal Australian Naval College in 1948, graduating in 1951. He trained with the Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy before being promoted to lieutenant in 1956. As a lieutenant commander, Beaumont served as Executive Officer on HMAS Brisbane during a seven-month Vietnam War tour in 1969.
He was promoted to commander for his service in this position, and posted as Officer-in-Charge HMAS Watson.
Beaumont commanded HMAS Ibis in 1962, HMAS Yarra between 1972 and 1973, and HMAS Vampire between 1978 and 1979. Staff postings in Canberra followed, including Director of Underwater Weapons, Follow-on Destroyer Project Officer, Director of Naval Plans, Director General Naval Plans and Policy and President of Officers Selection Boards.
Beaumont was appointed Chief of Staff to the Flag Officer Naval Support Command in January 1987, later being promoted to rear admiral in June and assuming the duties of Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Development). Promoted to vice admiral on 11 September 1989, Beaumont assumed the appointment of Vice Chief of the Defence Force, serving in this position until October 1992.
He was promoted to admiral on 17 April 1993 and commenced his appointment as Chief of the Defence Force.
Admiral Beaumont retired from the Royal Australian Navy on 6 July 1995. Between 2000 and 2003, Beaumont served as President of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of the ACT. He died on 21 September 2004, after a long battle with cancer.