Arthur Tange

Sir Arthur Tange
Arthur Tange, 1965
Secretary of the Department of Defence
In office
2 March 1970 – 16 August 1979
Preceded bySir Henry Bland
Succeeded byBill Pritchett
Australian High Commissioner to India
In office
1965–1969
Preceded bySir James Plimsoll
Succeeded bySir Patrick Shaw
Secretary of the Department of External Affairs
In office
25 January 1954 – 4 April 1965
Preceded byAlan Watt
Succeeded bySir James Plimsoll
Personal details
Born18 August 1914
Gosford, New South Wales
Died10 May 2001(2001-05-10) (aged 86)
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
NationalityAustralian
SpouseMarjorie
OccupationPublic servant

Sir Arthur Harold Tange AC, CBE (18 August 1914 – 10 May 2001) was a prominent Australian senior public servant of the middle to late 20th century.

A considerable intellect,[tone] he was one of the most influential people in the government of Australia for nearly 30 years, earning him respect and disdain in equal measure. He was best known for his controversial role in reforming the organisation of the administration of the Australian Department of Defence in the 1970s. He is also less well known for having laid the foundations of the modern Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in his time at the then Department of External Affairs.