Lieutenant General Bilton recently retired from full time service with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) after more than 41 years of service in the Australian Army.

Over the last decade he held senior leadership appointments as the Deputy Commanding General United States Army of the Pacific, Deputy Chief of Joint Operations, Forces Commander of Australia and Chief of Joint Operations. As Chief of Joint Operations, over the past five years, Lieutenant General Bilton was responsible for the planning and execution of the ADF campaign as well as all ADF operations both domestic and international. He also oversaw the planning and conduct of all major joint and multinational exercises conducted in Australia and overseas.

Lieutenant General Bilton has been awarded the Officer of Order of Australia and the Commander of the United States Legion of Merit among a range of awards for distinguished service. Lieutenant General Bilton is a graduate of the Royal Military College, Duntroon, the United States Command and General Staff College and the Australian Centre for Defence Strategic Studies. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of New South Wales, a Masters in Strategic Studies from Deakin University and a Masters in Military Art and Science from the United States Command and General Staff College.

Lieutenant General Bilton has extensive experience as a senior leader of large organisations, leading strategic planning, international engagement through military diplomacy, capability development and organisational design and functionality.