Former CDS Roger Lough recognised in Queen's Birthday Honours
News Item
- Date:
- 9 June, 2009
Dr Roger Malcolm Lough was awarded with the Member (AM) in the General Division of the Queens Birthday Honours List recently.
-
- Dr Roger Lough, Chief Defence Scientist, DSTO 2003 - 2008
The award was for service to national security and defence capability through leadership roles with the Defence Science and Technology Organisation and in recognition of more than four decades spent developing and assessing weaponry and technology for the Australian defence force.
Born in London, the 63-year-old migrated to Adelaide in the mid 60s landing a job as a technical assistant with what is now known as the Defence Science and Technology Organisation.
Dr Lough has since moved across the country 21 times, taking on several roles, before becoming DSTO's chief defence scientist in 2003. "I remember working on one of the first computers in Australia in the late 60s ... it was the size of a building," he said.
With a lifetime protecting Australia's soldiers at home and abroad, the recently retired grandfather said he was extremely proud of his contribution, which includes the Jindalee over-the-horizon radar - able to pinpoint planes flying across Australian airspace - and the Nulka missile decoy.
"There is a sense of satisfaction if one or more soldiers has been saved," he said.
Dr Lough and wife Diana first moved to Glen Waverley in 2003 and returned last year after a five year placement in Canberra, where he was also a member of the Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council.
He remains a member of the Defence Industry Advisory Council advising the state government on defence strategies.
The Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) is part of Australia's Department of Defence. DSTO's role is to ensure the expert, impartial and innovative application of science and technology to the defence of Australia and its national interests.