National Manager High Tech Crime Operations
Assistant Commissioner Gaughan joined the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in 1984 working in a variety of general policing and investigative roles in the ACT Region before transferring to the National Internal Investigation area in 1998.
In late 1999 Assistant Commissioner Gaughan left the AFP and joined the Australian Taxation Office working in the investigations, fraud control planning and risk management fields.
In 2004 Assistant Commissioner Gaughan returned to the AFP and commenced work in the Protection portfolio being promoted into the role of Manager Close Protection, in November 2005. While in Protection Assistant Commissioner Gaughan had responsibility for the AFP’s close protection activities as well as the national witness protection program and delivered AFP outcomes for APEC 2007 and World Youth Day 2008.
In August 2008 Assistant Commissioner Gaughan was moved to the position of Manager High Tech and Child Protection Operations with overall responsibility for all cyber investigations currently undertaken in the AFP, with a particular focus on critical infrastructure protection and child exploitation investigations.
Assistant Commissioner Gaughan was promoted to National Manager High Tech Crime Operations (HTCO) in December 2009. HTCO provides the AFP with an enhanced capability to investigate, disrupt and prosecute offenders committing serious and complex technology crimes. It also provides technical and surveillance capabilities in a close support role for all AFP Operations.
In December 2009, the AFP became the Chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT), an international alliance of law enforcement agencies dedicated to combating child sexual abuse. Since its inception in 2003, the VGT has significantly changed the way in which countries work together to protect children. Assistant Commissioner Gaughan, as the National Manager HTCO is the current Chair of the VGT.
Assistant Commissioner Gaughan has tertiary qualification in public administration, public policy and risk management.
Outside of work Assistant Commissioner Gaughan has a keen interest in most sports and is a season ticket holder with the Canberra Raider’s rugby league.