IAN MAC DOUGALL, AC, AFSM
COMMISSIONER, NSW FIRE BRIGADES

Ian Mac Dougall was appointed Commissioner of the NSW Fire Brigades in June 1994.

During his 40 years service with the Royal Australian Navy (1954 – 1994) he commanded submarines, a guide missile destroyer a fleet tanker, the submarine squadron and the Australian Fleet.

He was Director of Submarine Policy between 1982 and 1984 and Director General of Joint Operations and Plans for the Australian Defence Force 1986 – 87, contributing to the successful integration of the three arms for operations.
From January 1989 to July 1990 Admiral Mac Dougall served as Maritime Commander Australia. One of the highlights of his time in command of the Fleet was attendance at Gallipoli at the 75th Anniversary of the ANZAC landings in 1915. Another key event was Kangaroo `89, then Australia’s largest ever peacetime exercise. He then took up the position of Deputy Chief of Naval Staff.
Following his appointment as Chief of the Naval Staff (Chief Executive Officer) in March 1991, Vice Admiral Mac Dougall oversaw some 15,000 uniformed personnel and 5,100 departmental civilians.

During his time in the Royal Australian Navy, Admiral Mac Dougall also won the accolades of other naval services. He was awarded the Order of the Crown of Thailand, First Class, Knight Grand Cross for "his exceptionally meritorious conduct in performing outstanding service in the position of grave responsibility in the defence of the free world", and a prestigious military award from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for "his distinctive professional achievements and his personal endeavours for the improvement of relations between Australia and Pakistan and the Navies of the two countries."

He is a graduate of the US Naval War College (1980) and is an occasional external student at the University of New England, reading history. He was appointed a Companion in the Military Division of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list of 1993. In the 2000 Australia Day Honours list, he was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal.

Commissioner Mac Dougall is a member of the State Emergency Management Committee, the State Rescue Board, the Royal Humane Society and was President of the Australasian Fire Authorities Council 1986 – 1990. He is also Patron of the Submarine Association of Australia.

Commissioner Mac Dougall’s interests include skiing, golf and reading (particularly history).

He is a First Fleeter, Sydney (1788) First Settler Norfolk Island, (1789), First Settler Melbourne, (1803), and First Settler Hobart Town, (1804).