Air and Space Power Conference 2024 Panel Participant
Readiness and Resilience Across the Domains
Brigadier Sean Parkes, DSC, DSM
Deputy G7, Forces Command, Australia
Brigadier Parkes, after a brief career as an Accountant, professional athlete and Australian representative in Surf Life Saving, joined the Australian Army via the Royal Military College in 1998. He graduated in 1999 and was posted to the 2nd Commando Regiment and completed Special Forces reinforcement training in 2002. He has command at all ranks from Lieutenant to Brigadier in Special Operations Command including platoon, sub-unit, unit, task group and training Centre appointments, with the majority of his regimental service within the 2nd Commando Regiment.
Brigadier Parkes’ staff posting history includes serving as Staff Officer to the Deputy Special Operations Commander; Aide-de-Camp to the Special Operations Commander Australia; Operations and Plans officer 1st Commando Regiment; Training Officer 2nd Commando Regiment, Staff Officer in Headquarters Joint Operations Command; Military Assistant to Head Land Systems Division; Army industry out-placement at General Motors – Holden; Staff Officer Grade One in Military Strategic Commitments; Commandant of the Special Forces Training Centre and Special Operation Training and Education Centre; Staff Officer Grade One Culture and Diversity and the Director of Workforce Strategy – Army in Army People Capability Branch. Brigadier Parkes served as the inaugural Commandant of the Defence Special Operations Training and Education Centre for three years raising Army’s newest Training Centre. His last position was serving as the Director Military Art at the Land Combat College and was responsible for Army’s foundation and combat curriculum.
Brigadier Parkes’ operational experience include two deployments to East Timor, two deployments to Iraq and three deployments to Afghanistan. For operational service in Afghanistan, he was awarded a Commendation for Distinguished Service in 2009 as the Special Operations Task Group Plans Officer. In 2012, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for leadership in action commanding a Commando Company on combat operations in Afghanistan. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in 2017 for his command and leadership of the Special Operations Task Group combat advise and assist mission in Iraq, in direct support of the Iraqi forces liberation of Ramadi from Daesh.
Brigadier Parkes is a graduate of Army Command and Staff College (ACSC), the Coalition Joint Forces Special Operations Component Commander (CJFSOCC) Course and the McKinsey Executive Leadership Program. He is married to his wife Tammy, a Program Manager and he has two daughters from a previous relationship. He and his wife enjoy travelling, surfing, spearfishing, cooking together and holidaying with their children.
Brigadier Parkes promoted to Brigadier in November 23 and commenced in the role of G7 Army.