Modernising the ADF is about more than 5th Generation platforms, projects and the IIP. An environment of Accelerating Warfare dictates the need for cross-domain integration, enabling, access and strategy that meets the demands of our increasingly complex region. The Head of Land Capability, Major General Kathryn Toohey AM, CSC, will address Army’s contribution to this task.
Major General Kathryn Toohey, AM, CSC
Major General Kathryn Toohey joined the Australian Army in 1987, graduating from the Royal Military College – Duntroon in 1990. Major General Toohey was assigned to the Royal Australian Signals Corps and commenced her military career as a troop commander with the 2nd Signals Regiment.
Major General Toohey went on to serve in the 7th Signals Regiment (Electronic Warfare), the 1st Brigade Headquarters and in the Strategic Operations Division of Headquarters Northern Command. Her other appointments have included a posting as an instructor at the Royal Military College – Army as the Aide-de-Camp to the Governor-General of Australia. In addition, Major General Toohey deployed for a 13 month period as a troop commander in the Force Communications Unit as part of the United Nations Transitional Authority – Cambodia.
Since 2001, Major General Toohey has served in a range of staff appointments in the Capability Development Group (CDG) and Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG) and Force Development Group. In 2009, she served as the European Liaison Officer for CDG, representing the ADF at various multinational, NATO and European Union fora.
In 2012, Major General Toohey was assigned directorship of the Capability and Technology Management College (CTMC), an advanced education college providing mid-ranking officers and public servants Masters-level education and training and preparing them for capability lifecycle leadership within CDG and CASG. This role was expanded to include administrative command of Australia’s Federation Guard; command of the Defence Force Chaplains’ College and responsibility for the Defence sponsored post-graduate students at UNSW Canberra.
In 2013, Major General Toohey was appointed Director-General Integrated Capability Development (CDG), responsible for several and varied joint ADF projects, later serving as the Acting Head of Capability Systems within the group.
In 2016, Major General Toohey took leave from the Army to assume the statutory appointment of Deputy Electoral Commissioner in the Australian Electoral Commission. Upon her return to the Army in 2017, Major General Toohey was appointed the Head of Army’s Land Capability division.
Major General Toohey holds an Executive Masters in Business Management, a Masters of Management in Defence Studies; a Graduate Diploma in Information Technology and a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (Hons). She is also a graduate of the Australian Joint Command and Staff College.
In 2017, she was made a Member of the Order of Australia for her service to the Australian Defence Force in the fields of capability development and education.
Major General Toohey is married with three children.
