Former Australian Chief of Defence Angus Campbell has had his highest military decoration, the Distinguished Service Cross, removed from his public profile on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) website. The request, made in late 2025, coincided with Campbell's transition to his new role as Australia's ambassador to the European Union and NATO. Documents indicate Campbell asked that his profile be updated to reflect his diplomatic title, "His Excellency," and to omit the DSC, while retaining a reference to his Order of Australia honor.
This change appears to create a greater distance between Campbell's current diplomatic duties and his extensive military career. His previous military rank of 'General' is still permitted for use following his retirement from the defence force. The public affairs manager at the Australian embassy in Brussels acknowledged the request in an email in December 2025, noting Campbell's preference for his title to be changed from 'General (Rtd) Angus John Campbell AO, DSC' to 'HE Angus Campbell AO'.
The move follows a period of significant scrutiny regarding alleged war crimes in Afghanistan. A 2020 report by the Australian Defence Force, known as the Brereton Report, concluded that 39 Afghan civilians were unlawfully killed by Australian soldiers. War crimes investigator Major-General Paul Brereton recommended that commanders take accountability for actions that occurred under their command. In 2023, Campbell advocated for several commanders to be stripped of their medals in response to the report's findings.
Campbell informed Afghanistan veterans in 2023 that he had officially requested Defence Minister Richard Marles initiate the process of potentially revoking their honors, pending an independent review. "It is then for the minister to independently determine whether he accepts the assessment in my letter after considering the relevant information including your response," Campbell wrote, adding that if the minister agreed, a recommendation would be made to the governor-general.
A former senior military leader, speaking anonymously, questioned why Campbell did not surrender his medal if he wished for it to be removed from his public profile. A DFAT spokesperson stated that the request was made because the use of post-nominals is uncommon in Europe and that the ambassador had simplified his public profile to include only his national Order of Australia appointment.
Reports indicate Campbell had previously attempted to hand over his Distinguished Service Cross in 2023 but was reportedly advised against it by then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Campbell was appointed ambassador in January 2025, six months after retiring from his six-year tenure as Chief of Defence. He acknowledged in 2023 the complexities of initiating an investigation into the effects of his own command decisions, given that all army investigators fell under his command as Chief. He stated at the time he did not wish to cause further distress due to the high level of emotion and misinformation surrounding the issue.