Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (Australia)

Regimental Sergeant Major of the Australian Army (RSM-A)
Incumbent
Brad Doyle
since 8 July 2026
StyleRegimental Sergeant Major of the Army (Warrant Officer)
Inaugural holderWally Thompson

Regimental Sergeant Major - Army (RSM-A) is the most senior warrant officer in the Australian Army. It is a singular appointment – it is only held by one person at any time. RSM-A holds the unique rank of warrant officer (WO), which is senior to the rank of warrant officer class one. The special insignia for the RSM-A is the Australian coat of arms with a wreath around it. The thirteenth and current Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army is Brad Doyle.

Based on the United States Army practice of appointing a Sergeant Major of the Army, the RSM-A is the senior soldier of the Australian Army and principal non-commissioned advisor to the Chief of Army. The RSM-A's primary role is to represent the views, concerns and opinions of the soldiers in the Army to senior leaders. They also carry the Chief of Army's message and intent down and across the ranks.[1]

The appointment is the equivalent of the Warrant Officer of the Navy (WO-N) in the Royal Australian Navy, and the Warrant Officer of the Air Force (WOFF-AF) in the Royal Australian Air Force.

The post was created by the then Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Sir Phillip Bennett.

Appointees

No.Portrait NameTook officeLeft officeRef.
1
Wally Thompson OAM
Thompson, WallyWarrant Officer
Wally Thompson OAM
(1932–2012)		January 1983January 1987[2][3]
2
Kevin Wendt OAM, BEM
Wendt, KevinWarrant Officer
Kevin Wendt OAM, BEM
(1943–2020)		January 1987December 1990[4][5]
3
Peter Prewett CSC, OAM
Prewett, PeterWarrant Officer
Peter Prewett CSC, OAM
(born 1944)		January 1991December 1993[4]
4
Arthur Francis CSC, OAM
Francis, ArthurWarrant Officer
Arthur Francis CSC, OAM
(1946–2016)		December 1993December 1996[4]
5
Peter Rosemond CSC, OAM
Rosemond, PeterWarrant Officer
Peter Rosemond CSC, OAM
(born 1950)		December 1996March 2001[6]
6
Brian Boughton CSC, OAM
Boughton, BrianWarrant Officer
Brian Boughton CSC, OAM
(1950–2026)		March 200119 December 2003[7][8]
7
Kevin Woods CSC, OAM
Woods, KevinWarrant Officer
Kevin Woods CSC, OAM		19 December 200329 February 2008[7]
8
Stephen Ward OAM
Ward, StephenWarrant Officer
Stephen Ward OAM
(born 1956)		29 February 20084 October 2011[9]
9
Dave Ashley AM
Ashley, DaveWarrant Officer
Dave Ashley AM
(born 1959)		4 October 20119 July 2015[10]
10
Donald Spinks AM
Spinks, DonaldWarrant Officer
Donald Spinks AM		9 July 20152 July 2018[11]
11
Grant McFarlane AM
McFarlane, GrantWarrant Officer
Grant McFarlane AM		2 July 20181 July 2022[12]
12
Kim Felmingham NSC, OAM
Felmingham, KimWarrant Officer
Kim Felmingham NSC, OAM		1 July 20228 July 2026[13]
13
Brad Doyle OAM
Doyle, BradWarrant Officer
Brad Doyle OAM		8 July 2026[14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Ranks". Australian Army.
  2. ↑ "Tribute to Regimental Sergeant Major Wally Thompson, AO". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). New South Wales: Legislative Council. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 25 June 2014.
  3. ↑ "WO1 Wally Thompson, OAM farewelled". Australian Army. 2012. Archived from the original on 2 May 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 Ryan, WO2 Wayne (16 November 2006). "Seven of the Best". Army News. Retrieved 29 April 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ↑ "RSM of the Army: WO1 Kevin Wendt". Army News. 23 June 1988. p. 14. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  6. ↑ "Interview with Warrant Officer Peter Rosemond, CSC, OAM (Retd)" (PDF). Australian Army Journal. 10 (1): 13–24. 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  7. 1 2 Garland, Jonathan (27 March 2003). "Next RSM-A Named". Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper (1070 ed.). Canberra: Department of Defence. ISSN 0729-5685. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011.
  8. ↑ "Australia Day Awards". Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper (1090 ed.). Canberra: Department of Defence. 12 February 2004. ISSN 0729-5685. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011.
  9. ↑ "RSM-A Stephen Ward: Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army". Defence Leaders: Army. Department of Defence. Archived from the original on 28 June 2009. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "Regimental Sergeant Major - Army: Warrant Officer Dave Ashley, AM". Leaders. Australian Army. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "Army farewells ninth Regimental Sergeant Major – Army". Defence News and Media. Department of Defence. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  12. ↑ "Regimental Sergeant Major - Army: Warrant Officer Grant McFarlane, OAM". Leaders. Australian Army. Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  13. ↑ "Regimental Sergeant Major - Army: Warrant Officer Kim Felmingham NSC OAM". Leaders. Australian Army. Archived from the original on 27 November 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  14. ↑ "Regimental Sergeant Major - Army: Warrant Officer Brad Doyle OAM". Leadership. Australian Army. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
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