Special Operations Command (Australia)

Special Operations Command
Active	2003–Present
Country	Australia
Role	Special operations
Size	2,050 (Active) 750 (Reserve)
Part of	Australian Defence Force
Headquarters location	Potts Point, New South Wales
Motto(s)	Acies Acuta (The Cutting Edge)
Commanders
Current commander	Major General Jeff Sengelman

The Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) is a command within the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Special Operations Command was established on 5 May 2003 to unite all of the Australian Army Special forces units and by 2008 was fully operational. Australia's Special Operations Command is of equivalent status to Australia's Maritime, Land and Air Commands. It is modelled on the equivalent commands in the United States and British militaries. Led by a Major General (Special Operations Commander Australia, SOCAUST).

SOCOMD origins begin in 1979 with the Army creating a small Directorate Special Action Forces—Army (DSAF-A), on 13 February 1990 Headquarters Special Forces (HQSF) was established which was renamed in 1997 to Headquarters Special Operations (HQSO) and in 2003 to Special Operations Headquarters (SOHQ) in SOCOMD.

While Special Operations Command had not formally commenced operations at the time, it appears that the headquarters may have overseen the boarding of the North Korean freighter MV Pong Su in April 2003, which involved elements of both the SASR and 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Commando) Tactical Assault Groups.

In 2007, the APEC Summit hosted in Sydney had Special Operations Command involvement regarding security as world leaders, including John Howard, George W. Bush and other government and economic leaders were in attendance.

Special Operations Headquarters or SOHQ (Canberra and Sydney)

The following have held the position of Special Operations Commander Australia, with the ranks and honours as at the completion of their tenure:

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