Synergy's John Shanahan awarded a bar to his DSC
John Shanahan, an Executive Director at Synergy Group, has been awarded a bar to his Distinguished Service Cross in recognition of his service during the Afghanistan war.
The recognition is part of the 2020 Australia Day Honours List, which saw a total of 26 recipients of awards in the Military Division of the Order of Australia.
Brigadier John Shanahan was lauded for his distinguished command and leadership in warlike operations as the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Resolute Support Headquarters Chief of Operations and as the Commanding General Train Advise Assist Command – South in Afghanistan from September 2017 to February 2019.
The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force, awarded for distinguished command and leadership. Introduced in 1991, the award is the highest distinguished service decoration in the Australian Honours System, with recipients entitled to use the post-nominal letters ‘DSC’ in their title.
Shanahan becomes one of just roughly 100 Australians that have been granted the award since its inception. Having previously been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for operations in Afghanistan 2012-13, he now sees a bar added to his palmers.
The bar adds to his already impressive list of military recognitions. Previously, Shanahan was awarded a US Army Legion of Merit for operations in Afghanistan 2017-2019, a US Army Bronze Star Medal for operations in Afghanistan 2012-13, and appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire for operations in Iraq 2003.
Alongside serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, Shanahan also was part of combat in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Lebanon and Kosovo.
Building on his 20+ years of experience in the UK army, the US army, the Australian army and NATO, Shanahan joined management consulting Synergy Group in October last year as an Executive Director in the firm’s Defence and National Security practice.
Commenting on the news, Galia Cornish, CEO at Synergy Group, said “We congratulate John for the very well deserved recognition. It’s a great privilege to have him on our team and we thank him for his service.”
At the consulting firm, Shanahan specialises in strategic planning, leadership development, coaching, change management, helping clients with transformation, turnaround and enhanced effectiveness.
