Government House

                 CANBERRA  ACT  2600

 

 

          6 February 2017

 

 

 

 

The Governor-General is pleased to announce the following honorary appointment within the Military Division of the Order of Australia:

 

 

 

 

Honorary Officer (AO) in the Military Division

 

General Thomas Antonius MIDDENDORP, The Netherlands

For distinguished service as Commander of the Dutch Multinational Task Force 6 and the Chief of Defence of the Armed Forces of the Netherlands, and in recognition of efforts to enhance Defence engagement between Australia and the Netherlands.

 

 

 

By His Excellency’s Command

 

Mark Fraser LVO OAM

Official Secretary to the Governor-General


 

 

 

APPOINTED AN HONORARY OFFICER (AO)

 

IN THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

 

 

 

General Thomas Antonius MIDDENDORP, The Netherlands

For distinguished service as Commander of the Dutch Multinational Task Force 6 and the Chief of Defence of the Armed Forces of the Netherlands, and in recognition of efforts to enhance Defence engagement between Australia and the Netherlands.

 

General Middendorp has demonstrated the very highest commitment to furthering professional, institutional and personal ties between the Australian Defence Force and the Armed Forces of the Netherlands.  He has promoted enhanced levels of cooperation, particularly in facilitating the smooth transition of authority during the withdrawal of Dutch forces from Afghanistan in 2009 while Australian Forces sustained the combat operations. 

 

His exceptional leadership and compassion were critical during the unified response to the loss of the Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine in July 2014, and ensured that Australian Defence Force elements were provided with the highest level of support throughout the difficult and dangerous repatriation mission.