Background
Leahy was born in Melbourne, Victoria, on 30 October 1952.
director officer student chief
Leahy was born in Melbourne, Victoria, on 30 October 1952.
He has been director of the National Security Institute, University of Canberra, since October 2008. He entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1971, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Military Studies in 1974 and being commissioned into the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. Leahy"s early career included instructional duties at the Officer Cadet School, Portsea and command of a company of Gurkha soldiers during an exchange posting with 10th Princess Mary"s Own Gurkha Rifles in Hong Kong.
Over a three-year period he was a student and an instructor at the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Chief of Army
Leahy was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed Chief of Army on 28 June 2002. His appointment was extended by a further three years in June 2005, and he retired from the Army on 3 July 2008.
Leahy is the longest serving incumbent of the position since General Sir Harry Chauvel in the 1920s, and the only Chief of Army with no operational service in a theatre of war. His honours and awards represent distinguished, long and overseas exchange service not involving combat or operational duties.
He visited Australian troops deployed on combat duties overseas during his time as Chief of Army but was never himself posted to the force establishment of any operational unit
In the 2007 Queen"s Birthday Honours List, he was elevated to Companion (Air Corps), Australia"s highest civil honour. On 19 September 2008, Leahy joined the board of Codan. On 7 October 2008, he joined the staff of the University of Canberra as a Professor and foundation director of the National Security Institute.
Leahy is also the Patron of the Canberra Services Club, a position he has held since 2009.
Bachelor of Arts in Military Studies, University of New South Wales at the Royal Military College, Duntroon
Master of Military Arts and Science, United States Army Command and General Staff College
Fellow, Australian Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies
Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors
Graduate, Australian Army Command and Staff College
Graduate, Higher Command and Staff Course
Graduate, United States Army Command and General Staff College
Leahy is married to Lee and they have three sons. He enjoys most sports and reading.