Deputy Commissioner (National Security)
John Lawler, APM
Deputy Commissioner Lawler is a career law enforcement officer having served for 28 years with the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the Australian Government's primary law enforcement agency. As the Deputy Commissioner he currently has management responsibility for the AFP’s Aviation Security, Counter Terrorism, Intelligence and Protection activity both on and off shore.
Deputy Commissioner Lawler has extensive experience in a wide range of law enforcement disciplines performing roles at the local, national and international levels including Community Policing, Investigations, Protection, Intelligence, International operations and Executive services.
In addition to an extensive high profile investigational background, Deputy Commissioner Lawler performed the role of Director of Internal Security and Audit, during which he performed the critical oversight role of the AFP's internal security activities.
In 1997, Deputy Commissioner Lawler was posted to Washington DC as the AFP's Senior Liaison Officer responsible for the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Central America. Mr Lawler returned to Australia in 1999 to take up a key role as the General Manager, Protective Security in the lead up to the Sydney Olympics.
Between 2000 and 2003 Deputy Commissioner Lawler held the position of General Manager, Eastern Operations, the AFP largest operational office. Mr Lawler returned to Canberra in February 2003 to take up the position of General Manager Executive Services and National Operations, a role responsible for all AFP media activities, parliamentary interaction, legislation formulation, the Commissioner's office and oversight of AFP national operations.
Through 2002 – 2003, Mr Lawler regularly performed the duties of Deputy Commissioner and the Executive Director Protection. In 2004 Mr Lawler was appointed to the position of National Manager Border and International Network, a role in which he was responsible for the AFP's International Network and Transnational Crime Operations, with his appointment as Deputy Commissioner being confirmed in July 2004.
Deputy Commissioner Lawler was awarded an Australia Day Medallion in 1997 and the Australian Police Medal, Australia's highest law enforcement award, in 2003. Deputy Commissioner Lawler has also been awarded the National Medal and Clasp for his 25 years of diligent service. Deputy Commissioner Lawler is the recipient of AFP Operations Medal for Operation Sorbet and the ACT Emergency Medal, together with a number of AFP Commissioners Commendations for his contribution to a range of strategic initiatives and his dedication to duty on a number of key AFP and multi-jurisdictional investigations.
Deputy Commissioner Lawler is the AFP's representative on the National Counter Terrorism Committee (NCTC) and is the Chair of the National Police Memorial Steering Committee.
Deputy Commissioner Lawler holds a graduate certificate in Business Banking from Monash University, is a graduate of the Australian Graduate School of Management Managers Program at the University of New South Wales and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.