Presented by the Centre for Arab & Islamic Studies

John Cantwell AO DSC, Major-General retired from the Australian Army in early 2012 after a unique career spanning almost 40 years. Starting as a 17 year old Private in 1973, his illustrious career included being a tank commander, Commanding Officer of the Royal Military College at Duntroon, Commander of a brigade of around 3000 troops, the Deputy Chief of the Army, and most recently he was the Commander of all Australian forces in Afghanistan and the wider Middle East area of operations.

Exit Wounds is Major-General Cantwell’s story of the realities of active combat and the enduring scars it leaves on our armed forces.

John Cantwell  was also Interim Head (and later, Chief of Operations) of the Victoria Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority coordinating all Commonwealth, State and non-government efforts to recover from the deadly Black Saturday fires in 2009.

He has served in three distinct wars: combat duty in Operation Desert Storm in 1991; in Iraq in 2006; and as the Australian Commander in the Middle East in 2010. He has been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his leadership in action in Afghanistan, been made a Member of the Order of Australia and an Officer of the Order of Australia, and received the United States Legion of Merit. Since his retirement Major-General Cantwell spends his time as a writer, lecturer and adviser.

Professor Amin Saikal in conversation with Major General Cantwell

To hear the full lecture go to the audio link below