2025-26 Command Team

Commanding Officer (CO)

Lieutenant Colonel Benedict James Farrell

In 2007, Lieutenant Colonel Farrell commenced training at the Royal Military College - Duntroon and graduated in June 2008 to the 3rd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (Parachute), where he served as a rifle platoon commander and Direct Fire Support Weapons Platoon Commander. In 2017, Lieutenant Colonel Farrell returned to 3rd Battalion as Officer Commanding Charlie Company, and subsequently the Operations Officer. 

Lieutenant Colonel Farrell has been fortunate to deploy as a Mentor on Operation Highroad in 2011, as a Company Commander on Operation Resolute Support in 2018 and 2023 as an operational planner within the United States Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve. In his 2018 deployment, Lieutenant Colonel Farrell led Charlie Company, 3 RAR, as the nucleus of Force Protection Element – Nine. During this deployment he was dual hatted as the Officer Commanding and as the Operations Officer of Task Group Afghanistan. 

Lieutenant Colonel Farrell has fulfilled a variety of staff appointments, including formation plans, Military Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Army, Land Capability Division and as a strategic planner within Military Strategic Plans Division. Lieutenant Colonel Farrell has also completed a four-month secondment to the Department of Home Affairs as the lead planner within a Joint Inter-Agency Task Force. These postings have provided Lieutenant Colonel Farrell opportunity to understand and contribute to Defence’s executive level decision-making and to Defence’s most sensitive plans. Through these experiences, Lieutenant Colonel Farrell is acutely aware of the demands on the ADF, its role within the near region, and the value of our combat forces, particularly our short-notice deployable joint forces. 

Lieutenant Colonel Farrell is married to Jodi and they have a 17 year old daughter, Annabelle. Lieutenant Colonel Farrell is an avid hunter, enjoys fitness training and reading. Lieutenant Colonel Farrell holds a Masters of Business and a Masters of Military and Defence Studies.

Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM)

Warrant Officer Class One Matthew Vermey

Warrant Officer Class One Matthew Vermey is an Australian Army Warrant Officer with over thirty years’ experience across a range of regimental, operational, and training appointments in Australia and overseas.

Warrant Officer Vermey commenced his new appointment as the Regimental Sergeant Major of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment in January 2025.

Warrant Officer Vermey enlisted into the Australian Army on the 16 January 1995 and was allocated to the Royal Australian Infantry Corps.

Warrant Officer Vermey’s regimental experience as a Regimental Sergeant Major has been with the 8th/7th Battalion, The Royal Victoria Regiment. He was also appointed RSM of the Australian contingent to the United Nation Mission in South Sudan on Operation ASLAN for a six month rotation in 2022 – 2023.

 Warrant Officer Vermey’s Royal Australian Regiment career commenced in Brisbane with the 8th/9th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment. This was followed by a lengthy posting to the 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment. He has also served as a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer in the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment and the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment. Warrant Officer Vermey’s 2nd (Australian) Division service has included appointments to both the 5th/6th and the 8th/7th Battalions of The Royal Victoria Regiment.

Warrant Officer Vermey’s instructional postings have included the School of Infantry as an instructor for Initial Employment Trainees in Depot Company and later as the Officer Instructing the Range Qualification Team in Tactics Wing. He has also seen instructor postings to the Royal Military College Duntroon, the Combat Training Centre, and the Infantry Battle School in Brecon Wales.

Warrant Officer Vermey has served on operations in East Timor, with the 1st Battalion, twice to Timor Leste with the 2nd Battalion, Afghanistan and Iraq with 3rd Battalion, and to South Sudan as the Australian contingent RSM.

In addition to his campaign and service medals, Warrant Officer Vermey has been awarded a Commendation for Distinguished Service, an Australia Day Medallion and a United Kingdom three star citation.

Warrant Officer Vermey is married to Elisha and has two sons Oliver and William. His interests include Australian Rules football, fishing and military history.