Brigadier Paul Michael Nothard, AM, CSC - Head of Corps, Royal Australian Corps of Transport

Brigadier Paul Nothard graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1988 and was allotted to the Royal Australian Corps of Transport. Corps related postings have included Troop Command in the 5^th Transport Squadron; Officer Commanding 86^th Transport Troop, 26^th Transport Squadron; Instructor at Corps Training Wing, Army School of Transport; Australian Exchange Instructor at the United States Army Transportation School, Fort Eustis, Virginia and Officer Commanding 26^th Transport Squadron.

He has served in a wide variety of staff appointments including Liaison Officer to the Commander 3^rd Military District; S4 Transport and S4 Logistics on Headquarters 3^rd Brigade; Staff Officer Grade Two Facilities and Training Areas, Army Headquarters; Senior Officer Manager – Army (SOM-A) at the Directorate of Officer Career Management – Army and Defence Adviser to the Joint Standing Committee for Defence, Foreign Affairs and Trade at Parliament House, Canberra.

In 1998 he deployed to Bougainville on Operation Bel Isi. For his service as the Operations Officer of the Peace Monitoring Team – Buin, Brigadier Nothard was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in the 1999 Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

In January 2006, Brigadier Nothard commenced service as the Commanding Officer of the 1^st Combat Service Support Battalion (1 CSSB). From February to August 2007, Brigadier Nothard commanded the Force Level Logistic Asset – Middle East Area of Operations, providing logistic support to all members within the OP CATALYST and OP SLIPPER areas of operation. For his service as the SOM-A, CO 1 CSSB and CO FLLA-MEAO he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2008 Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

In January 2009, he was promoted to colonel and posted as Colonel Support at Headquarters Land Command, then upon the formation of Headquarters Forces Command on 1 July 2009, he transitioned to the appointment of G4. In 2010, he served as the Director of Officer Career Management – Army and was a course member at the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies, Weston Creek in 2011. Brigadier Nothard was promoted to his current rank and commenced service as the Director General Army Operations, Army Headquarters in January 2012.

Brigadier Nothard has been married to Karen for 20 years and they have a 18 year old son (Jordan) and a 16 year old daughter (Samara). He is a graduate of Australian Command and Staff College (2002) and the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies (2011). He holds a Bachelor of Professional Studies from the University of New England, a Masters of Management from the University of Canberra and a Masters of Strategic Studies from Deakin University. He is a Graduate and Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is an Executive Director on the Board of the Army Amenities Fund. His interests include spending time with his family and attempting to play a decent round of golf.

On 15 October 2012, Brigadier Nothard was appointed as the Head of Corps of the Royal Australian Corps of Transport.