Quick Facts
Biography
General David John Hurley AC, DSC (born 1953) is a former senior officer in the Australian Army, and the 38th and current Governor of New South Wales. In a 42-year military career, Hurley was deployed on Operation Solace in Somalia in 1993, commanded the 1st Brigade (1999–00), and was appointed the inaugural Chief of Capability Development Group (2003–07). His career culminated with his appointment as Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) on 4 July 2011, in succession to Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston. Hurley retired from the Defence Force in June 2014, and succeeded Dame Marie Bashir as Governor of New South Wales on 2 October the same year.
Early life and education
David Hurley was born in Wollongong, New South Wales, the son of Norma and James Hurley. His father was an Illawarra steelworker and his mother worked in a grocery store. Hurley grew up in Port Kembla, attended Port Kembla High School where he completed his Higher School Certificate in 1971. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Graduate Diploma in Defence Studies. He is married to Linda and has three children.
Military career
Hurley joined the Australian Army in January 1972, and graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon in December 1975 into the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. His initial posting was to the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR). Promoted to captain, he was appointed Adjutant of the Sydney University Regiment before becoming Regimental Adjutant of the Royal Australian Regiment. He went on exchange to the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards (British Army) before serving with 5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (5/7 RAR).
Promoted to lieutenant colonel, he was posted as the Senior Career Adviser (Armour, Artillery, Engineers and Infantry) in the Office of the Military Secretary in 1990, appointed SO1 (Operations) Headquarters 2nd Division in early 1991 and in November 1991 assumed command of 1 RAR which he led during Operation SOLACE (Somalia) in 1993. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for this service. In 1994 he became SO1 (Operations), Headquarters 1st Division.
Following promotion to colonel, he was appointed Chief of Staff, Headquarters 1st Division in June 1994, attended the U.S. Army War College in 1996 and 1997, became Military Secretary to Chief of Army, and was posted to Australian Defence Headquarters as Director of Preparedness and Mobilisation in December 1997.
As a brigadier, he assumed command of the 1st Brigade in Darwin in January 1999. During this period he oversaw the Brigade's transition to a higher degree of operational readiness and its support to Australian led operations in East Timor. He went on to be Director General Land Development within Capability Systems in January 2001.
He was promoted to major general in 2001 and served as Head Capability Systems Division from July 2001, and as Land Commander Australia (LCAUST) from December 2002.
Promoted to lieutenant general, he assumed the new appointment of Chief of Capability Development Group (CCDG) in December 2003, went on to take the newly separated appointment of Chief of Joint Operations (CJOPS) in September 2007, and became Vice Chief of the Defence Force (VCDF) in July 2008.
Hurley was promoted to general and succeeded Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston as Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) on 4 July 2011.
In January 2012 Hurley completed 40 years service to the Australian Defence Force, and on 20 January whilst in Paris, he was presented with the insignia for Officer of the Legion of Honour by the French CDF. In February he was presented with his fifth bar to the Defence Force Service Medal, and with the DFSM ribbon with the Federation Star, in recognition of his 40 years of service. Hurley retired from the Australian Army on 30 June 2014, and was succeeded as CDF by Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin.
David Morrison (Australian of the Year 2016), has attributed, "one of the most quoted phrases" in his anti-misogyny speech, "the standard you walk past is the standard you accept" to David Hurley.
Post-Defence activities
Hurley is a Honorary Patron of the ACT Veterans Rugby Club.
Governor of New South Wales
On 5 June 2014, New South Wales Premier Mike Baird announced that General Hurley would replace Dame Marie Bashir as Governor of New South Wales: he was sworn in by the Premier on 2 October 2014 after Bashir's term as Governor expired. On 17 March 2015, he was invested as a Knight of the Order of St John by the Lord Prior, Dr Neil Conn, at a ceremony at Government House, Sydney.
Titles, styles and honours
Titles
The Governor's style and title in full is: His Excellency General The Honourable David John Hurley, Companion of the Order of Australia, Distinguished Service Cross, Governor of the State of New South Wales in the Commonwealth of Australia.
Honours and awards
 | Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) | 26 January 2010 |
| Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) | 26 January 2004 | |
 | Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) | 26 November 1993 |
 | Knight of the Order of St John | 17 March 2015 |
 | Australian Active Service Medal | with SOMALIA clasp |
 | Australian Service Medal | with SOMALIA clasp |
 | Defence Force Service Medal with the Federation Star | 40–44 years service |
 | Australian Defence Medal | |
 | Officer of the Legion of Honour (France) | 20 January 2012 |
 | Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States) | 10 May 2012 |
 | Knight Grand Commander of the Order of Military Service (Malaysia) | 24 September 2012 |
 | Defence Meritorious Service Star – 1st Class (Indonesia) | 19 November 2012 |
 | Distinguished Service Order (Singapore) | 13 February 2013 |
 | Gold Medal of the Order of the Crown of Thailand (Thailand) | June 2014 |
 | Gold Decoration of Merit (Netherlands) | June 2014 |
- Badges
- Infantry Combat Badge
Honorary appointments
2 October 2014: Regimental Colonel in the Royal New South Wales Regiment.- (Previously): Honorary Colonel for Sydney University Regiment.
- governor.nsw.gov.au – Biography of the Governor – 6 October 2014
- It's an Honour – Companion of the Order of Australia – 26 January 2010
Citation: For eminent service to the Australian Defence Force as Chief of Capability Development Group, Chief of Joint Operations and Vice Chief of the Defence Force. - It's an Honour – Officer of the Order of Australia – 26 January 2004
Citation: For distinguished service, leadership and management to the Australian Defence Force in senior command and staff appointments. - It's an Honour – Distinguished Service Cross (Australian) – 26 November 1993
- ^ Official High Resolution Photo, July 2011, www.defence.gov.au
- French Embassy in Australia – Officer of the Legion of Honour – 20 January 2012
- ^ Raymond Griggs [1] (24 June 2014). "@DavidHurley_CDF last night promoted VADM Tim Barrett who will next week succeed me as @CN_Australia – congrats Tim." (Tweet). Retrieved 25 June 2014 – via Twitter.
- Bintang Yudha Dharma Utama is also translated as "The Grand Meritorious Military Order – 1st Class" – Chief of Defence Force receives Indonesia's highest military award, AsiaOne, 2 May 2012
- Defence News – Defence Meritorious Service Star – 19 November 2012
- The ribbon displayed is for Bintang Yudha Dharma Nararya (Defence Meritorious Service Star – 3rd Class). The ribbon for the Bintang Yudha Dharma Utama (Defence Meritorious Service Star – 1st Class) is the same, but with the addition of two central narrow red stripes. Bintang Yudha Dharma, Sekretariat Negara Republik Indonesia Official Website, www.setneg.go.id
- Top military award conferred on Australian Chief of the Defence Force – Top military award conferred on Australian Chief of the Defence Force, Australian High Commission, Singapore, 13 February 2013