National Manager Counter Terrorism
Assistant Commissioner Steve Lancaster began his policing career with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in 1982. Since then, he has held a range of roles across local, national and international operations.
As Superintendent Sydney Operations, Assistant Commissioner Lancaster coordinated general Federal Operations and led investigations into counter terrorism operations. Assistant Commissioner Lancaster was then promoted to Commander and appointed as Deputy Chief Police Officer - Response, ACT Policing. In this role, he commanded General Duties, Specialist Response and Security and Traffic Operations.
In 2006, Assistant Commissioner Lancaster was selected to command Operation Serene, the AFP response to civil unrest in Timor-Leste. He was awarded the Australian Police Medal in 2007 for distinguished service, particularly as the AFP Contingent Commander to Operation Serene.
Following the successful transition of the AFP mission in Timor-Leste to a United Nations Police mission, Assistant Commissioner Lancaster was transferred to establish and command the newly-formed Operational Response Group (ORG). The ORG combines tactical policing capabilities with a high readiness crisis response to international peacekeeping missions and is functionally aligned to the AFP’s International Deployment Group.
In June 2009, Assistant Commissioner Lancaster was transferred to the Counter Terrorism portfolio as the Manager of Counter Terrorism International and, in December 2009, was promoted to Assistant Commissioner, taking on the role of National Manager Counter Terrorism.