John Jensen (public servant)

Sir John Klunder Jensen OBE (20 March 1884 – 17 February 1970) was a senior Australian public servant. He was Secretary of the Department of Munitions between 1942 and 1948.

Sir John Jensen
OBE
Secretary of the Department of Munitions
In office
1 January 1942 – 5 April 1948
Secretary of the Department of Supply and Development
In office
6 July 1948 – 31 July 1949
Personal details
Born
John Klunder

(1884-03-20)20 March 1884
Bendigo, Victoria
Died17 February 1970(1970-02-17) (aged 85)
Hawthorn, Melbourne, Victoria
Resting placeBox Hill Cemetery
NationalityAustralia Australian
Spouse(s)Maria Ruby Gordon
(m. 1911)
OccupationPublic servant

Life and career

John Jensen was born in Bendigo, Victoria on 20 March 1884.[1]

He joined the Commonwealth Public Service in 1901, the year of Australia's federation and the year the service was first established.[1]

In 1920, Jensen visited the United States on rifle-manufacturing business, and he went on to study factory administration in England and in the United States.[2]

In January 1942, Jensen was appointed Secretary of the Department of Munitions.[3][4] During his time as permanent head of the Munitions department, he was a member of the Allied Supply Standing Committee and the executive of the Allied Supply Council.[5] In the role, he played a leading part in organizing munitions supply during World War II.[6] His department was abolished in 1948 after scaling down after the world war.[5] At this time, Jensen was moved to head the Department of Supply and Development.[7] In his role at the Department of Supply and Development, he found himself frequently journeying to South Australia, including to visit the Woomera Rocket Range, and in connection to uranium mining.[8]

Jensen retired in 1949.[9] Immediately after retirement he took work as a member of the Commonwealth Immigration Planning Council.[5]

On 17 February 1970, Jensen died in Hawthorn, Melbourne.[1]

Awards and honours

In 1938, Jensen was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.[10] In the 1950 Birthday Honours he was made a Knight Bachelor, for services to munitions production.[11]

In December 1969, the Victorian headquarters of the Department of Supply was named Jensen House in John Jensen's honour.[1]

References
  1. Steven, Margaret (1996), "Jensen, Sir John Klunder (1884–1970)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian National University, archived from the original on 18 April 2014
  2. "Successor to Mr. Brigden: Mr. J. K. Jensen". The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 January 1942. p. 4.
  3. "Munitions Department Appointment". The Mercury. Hobart, Tasmania. 1 January 1942. p. 5.
  4. CA 39: Department of Munitions, Central Administration, National Archives of Australia, archived from the original on 13 March 2020, retrieved 8 May 2014
  5. CP 138: Sir John Klunder JENSEN OBE, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 8 May 2014
  6. "Mr. Jensen To Speed Up Homes For Migrants". The Canberra Times. 12 April 1949. p. 2.
  7. CA 54: Department of Supply and Development, Central Office [II], National Archives of Australia, archived from the original on 22 February 2015, retrieved 8 May 2014
  8. "Mr. J. K. Jensen in new post: Accommodation for migrants". The Advertiser. Adelaide, South Australia. 12 April 1949. p. 2.
  9. "Secretary of Supply Department", Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, p. 4, 9 April 1949, Mr. H. P. Breen has been appointed Secretary of the Department of Supply and Development, in succession to Mr. J. K. Jensen, who has reached retiring age.
  10. "Search Australian Honours: JENSEN, John Klunder", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 8 May 2014
  11. "Search Australian Honours: JENSEN, John Klunder", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 8 May 2014



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