Dennis Richardson (public servant)

Dennis Richardson AC
Official portrait, 2005
Secretary of the Department of Defence
In office 18 October 2012 (2012-10-18) – 12 May 2017 (2017-05-12)
Preceded by	Duncan Lewis
Succeeded by	Greg Moriarty
Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
In office January 2010 – 18 October 2012
Preceded by	Michael L'Estrange
Succeeded by	Peter Varghese
19th Ambassador of Australia to the United States
In office 20 June 2005 – 1 February 2010
Preceded by	Michael Thawley
Succeeded by	Kim Beazley
10th Director-General of Security
In office 11 October 1996 – 27 May 2005
Prime Minister	John Howard
Preceded by	David Sadleir
Succeeded by	Paul O'Sullivan
Personal details
Born	Dennis James Richardson (1947-05-14) 14 May 1947 (age 77) Kempsey, New South Wales
Nationality	Australian
Spouse	Betty Richardson
Alma mater	University of Sydney (BA [Hons])
Profession	Diplomat public servant

Dennis James Richardson, AC (born 14 May 1947)^[1] is an Australian retired public servant and diplomat who served as the Secretary of the Department of Defence from 2012 to 2017 and Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs from 2010 to 2012. He was previously the 10th Director-General of Security from 1996 to 2005 and the 19th Ambassador of Australia to the United States of America from 2005 to 2010.