Brigadier Sean Parkes

Brigadier Parkes joined the Australian Army attending the Royal Military College in 1998. Graduating in 1999, he subsequently completed Special Forces reinforcement training in 2002 and has commanded at all ranks from Lieutenant to Colonel in Special Operations Command including Special Forces Training Centre appointments.

Brigadier Parkes’ staff posting appointment includes serving in Special Operations Command, Headquarters Joint Operations Command, Land Systems Division, Army Headquarters, Military Strategic Commitments Division in ADF Headquarters, and an industry out-placement at General Motors (GM).

Brigadier Parkes was the inaugural Commandant of the Defence Special Operations Training and Education Centre for three years raising Army’s newest Training Centre and then went on to serve as the Director Military Art at the Land Combat College responsible for overseeing Army’s foundation and combat curriculum.

Brigadier Parkes’ operational experience includes multiple deployments to East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan. For operational service in Afghanistan, he was awarded a Commendation for Distinguished Service as the Special Operations Task Group Plans Officer and a Distinguished Service Medal for leadership in action commanding on combat operations. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his command and leadership of the Special Operations Task Group combat advise and assist mission in Iraq.

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. Brigadier Parkes is currently serving as the Australian Army Deputy G7 and holds authorities and responsibilities on behalf of the Army G7 for the Australian Army Training System,