1st Armoured Regiment Association

Patron

 

Major General R.A.Powell AM. 

 

Major General Roger Anthony Powell commenced his Officer Training at RMC in 1968 and graduated into the Royal Australian Armoured Corps in 1971 having successfully completed his Bachelor of Arts degree (UNSW). 

 

His early postings were to A Squadron 4th Cavalry Regiment as a reconnaissance troop leader and to the 1st Armoured Regiment initially in a range of Regimental duties and then as Adjutant in 1975. 

 

In 1978 he attended Florida State University where he studied Educational Psychology and in 1979 he obtained a Master of Science degree. In 1979 he was posted to Headquarter Training Command a Staff Officer Grade Two (Development).

 

From 1981 to 1982 he commanded a tank squadron with the 4th Royal Tank Regiment initially with the British Army on the Rhine in West Germany for eighteen months and then for six months in Southern England. Major General Powell completed Command and Staff College at Queenscliff in 1983. 

 

In 1984 he was posted to Headquarters 6th Brigade as the Brigade Major. Major General Powell was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1986 and was posted as Staff Officer Grade One (Manpower) in the office of the Chief of the General Staff. In December 1986, he returned to the 1st Armoured Regiment as the Commanding Officer. He attended Joint Services Staff College in 1989, following which he was appointed Military Assistant to the Chief of the General Staff. He was promoted to Colonel and posted to the Australian 

Defence Force Academy in December 1990 as the director of Military Education and Training and Commanding Officer of the Corps of Officer Cadets. 

 

Major General Powell was promoted to Brigadier on 15 December 1993 and assumed command of the 6th Brigade on 20 December 1993. He was awarded an AM on Australia Day, 1996. He attended the Australia College of Defence and Strategic Studies in 1996. In December 1996 he took up his appointment as Director General Land Development. In October 1998, he assumed command of the multi‐national Peace Monitoring Group on Bougainville. He was promoted to Major General on 23 April 1999 and assumed command of Training Command Army on 10 May 1999. 

 

Major General Powell assumed the role of Honorary Colonel of 1st Armoured Regiment in 2003 and in 2008 assumed the Role of Honorary Colonel Royal Australian Armoured Corps. 

 

Major General Powell is married to Rhonda and has two adult children. He is a keen sportsman, with a continuing interest in Cricket, Australian Rules football, Tennis and Squash.