The senior bureaucrat has led the public service's implementation of border protection policies, overseen major departmental restructures, and played a central role in the recent overhaul of Australia's national security apparatus.

He received the Queen's Birthday honour on Monday for "distinguished service to public administration through leadership roles in the areas of national security, border control and immigration".

Mr Pezzullo's Australian Public Service career has spanned roles in the Defence Department, the Prime Minister's Department, and senior leadership positions at the former Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.

He also worked outside the federal bureaucracy, joining the staff of foreign minister Gareth Evans in 1993 and later spending five years as deputy chief of staff to opposition leader Kim Beazley, before leaving Parliament House in 2001.

Mr Pezzullo has overseen major restructures of public service departments, including the Immigration Department's merger in 2015 with the customs and border protection service.

He was also instrumental in establishing the Home Affairs Department in 2017 as part of a change drawing immigration, border protection and national security into the one portfolio.

During COVID-19 the department has led the National Coordination Mechanism, supporting the national cabinet with non-health federal government responses to the virus.

In a recent message to Home Affairs Department staff, Mr Pezzullo said its COVID-19 response had shown its merits.

"One question has been answered beyond all doubt: in the face of such a supreme difficulty, what might the best construct by which to organise the most effective civil defence, to bring together all capacities, capabilities and teams, to harness technology, to adapt the strengths which have been forged in response to natural hazards and terror, to bring to bear deep industry and infrastructure connections?" he said.

"The answer: the apparatus of Home Affairs."