Jim Furner

Brigadier James Osmond Furner, AO, CBE, DSM (25 November 1927 – 17 September 2007) was an Australian military intelligence officer, who was the longest serving Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) from 1984 to 1992.

Brigadier
Jim Furner
AO, CBE, DSM
Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service
In office
27 February 1984 – 24 November 1992
Prime MinisterBob Hawke
Paul Keating
Preceded byJohn Ryan
Succeeded byRex Stevenson
Personal details
Born(1927-11-25)25 November 1927
Warragul, Victoria
Died17 September 2007(2007-09-17) (aged 79)
Terrigal, New South Wales
NationalityAustralian
Spouse
Lois Walker
​
(m. 1952)​
Alma materUniversity of Melbourne
Military service
AllegianceAustralia
Branch/serviceAustralian Army
Years of service1952–1982
RankBrigadier
CommandsAustralian Army Intelligence Centre (1969–70)
Battles/warsVietnam War
AwardsOfficer of the Order of Australia
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Medal

Military career

After completing a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Melbourne and working as a school teacher, Furner embarked on a career change and enlisted in the Australian Army, becoming one of the first cadets to be trained at the Officer Cadet School, Portsea. On completion of his training, Furner joined the Royal Australian Infantry Corps where he was posted overseas with the 1st Commonwealth Division in South Korea from 1955 to 1956.[1]

In 1982, Furner joined the Joint Intelligence Organisation as deputy director, and retired from the army to take the civilian post of director a few months later.[1]

Australian Secret Intelligence Service

In February 1984, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Bill Hayden, asked Furner to take the role of Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service in an acting capacity.[2] The appointment was made permanent in late July 1985 and Furner served in the role until November 1992.[1]

References
  1. Vale Brigadier James Osmond Furner, AO, CBE, DSM (Retd), Defender (Australian Defence Association).
  2. White, Hugh (30 July 1985). "New director-general for ASIS". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
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