The chief of the navy, the deputy chief of the army and the chief of Defence's capability development group are just three of the many Australian servicemen and a handful of servicewomen recognised in today's Queen's Birthday honours list.
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Leading Seaman Deanna Pringle, the cook and primary health care provider aboard HMAS Pirie during the Christmas Island refugee boat tragedy on December 15, 2010, has been awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal.
Her citation states her ''highly effective triage and supervision of the treatment of 27 seriously injured casualties for several hours'' had saved the lives of many people and inspired even more.
''She undertook this role despite limited medical training and experience. After this ordeal, and once the casualties were ashore, she prepared the evening meal for the ship's company and continued to assist in the search for more survivors.''
More than 30 people died after an asylum seeker vessel carrying an estimated 90 refugees, ran on to rocks at Flying Fish Cove. HMAS Pirie and the customs vessel Triton played a vital role in plucking at least 42 people from the sea.
Brigadier Dianne Maree Gallasch, the director general support at Bungendore's headquarters Joint Operations Command, has been awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross.
Air Commodore Tracy Smart, of Canberra, has been made a member of the Military Division of the Order of Australia for her work as an aviation medicine specialist while Warrant Officer Debbie Butterworth has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the Military Division for her work in logistics management.
The highest awards for gallantry announced today were three Medals for Gallantry to Corporal Ryan Avery of the Northern Territory, Bombardier David Robertson of South Australia and Private T, a soldier whose identity cannot be disclosed.
Corporal Avery exposed himself to enemy fire repeatedly while protecting his mates by engaging the enemy in Afghanistan on December 4, 2010.
Bombardier Robertson directed mortar fire on to well-concealed enemy positions from an exposed observation post in Uruzgan Province on March 20 last year.
''His bravery in extremely hazardous conditions guaranteed the safety of his own team and prevented casualties among advancing Australian and Afghan forces,'' his citation states.
Major General Angus Campbell, who became the deputy chief of army earlier this year, has been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his leadership of Joint Task Force 633 (Operation Slipper) in the Middle East Area of Operations (including Afghanistan) from January to December last year.
A former troop and squadron commander in the Special Air Service Regiment, he is one of several members of the Defence senior leadership group with special services experience.
Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, the chief of navy, since last July, has been appointed an Officer in the Military Division of the Order of Australia for ''an outstanding contribution to the Australian Defence Force through his astute command, leadership and management abilities''.
The same honour has been bestowed on Vice Admiral Peter Jones, appointed Chief of Defence's capability development group last year following the abrupt departure of his predecessor and former boss, Air Marshal John Harvey, in November.
