Defence department chief Greg Moriarty to succeed Kevin Rudd as Australian ambassador to US

"The head of the department of defence, Greg Moriarty, will succeed Kevin Rudd as Australia's ambassador to the United States. The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, announced Moriarty's appointment to the role on Sunday. A former chief of staff to Malcolm Turnbull and former Australian envoy to Iran and Indonesia, he has led the defence department since 2017. He will take up the posting in Washington from April. Moriarty was Australia's inaugural counter-terrorism coordinator and previously worked in US Central Command in the Gulf during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He represented Australia in Papua New Guinea, and as a negotiator of the peace monitoring group for Bougainville."

"Albanese said Moriarty would represent Australia's interests with the Trump administration with distinction, including as the Aukus nuclear submarine agreement is progressed. He called Moriarty an outstanding Australian public servant. He has served both Labor and Coalition governments and he's been of the secretary of the department of defence and the Aukus deal is central to our relationship with the US, he told ABC TV. I know Mr Moriarty very well. I have been impressed by the dignified way he handles himself, by the connections in the United States as well. I engaged broadly in discussions about who the right person was. Albanese confirmed members of the Trump Administration had been consulted on the appointment."

Greg Moriarty, head of the department of defence since 2017, will become Australia's ambassador to the United States, succeeding Kevin Rudd. Moriarty has extensive diplomatic and defence experience, including roles as chief of staff to Malcolm Turnbull, envoy to Iran and Indonesia, inaugural counter-terrorism coordinator, and service with US Central Command during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He represented Australia in Papua New Guinea and negotiated for the Bougainville peace monitoring group. Albanese praised Moriarty's service and US connections and confirmed consultation with the Trump administration. Kevin Rudd will depart the post on 31 March to become global president of the Asia Society.

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