New Deputy Chief of Staff announced for the Defence Forces
- Foilsithe: 8 Iúil 2025
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 8 Iúil 2025
Tánaiste announces appointment of new Deputy Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces
The government this morning (Tuesday, 8 July) accepted the recommendation of the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Simon Harris, to nominate Colonel Colm Ó Luasa for appointment by the government as Deputy Chief of Staff Support of the Defence Forces.
He has, since May 2021, been Director of the Transformation Management Office and is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the Commission on the Defence Forces programme of projects.
The Tánaiste said:
"I would like to congratulate Colonel Ó Luasa on his appointment and I look forward to working closely with him in the future in the delivering the transformation of the Defence Forces to ensure that it is a fit-for-purpose organisation to defend the State and meet the challenges we face now and into the future.
"He brings considerable experience to the role, not least in his role as Director of the Transformation Management Office, which will be of great benefit in continuing the transformation journey."
Military experience
Colonel Colm Ó Luasa is a professional Cavalry and Special Forces officer with over 39 years' experience in a variety of roles across the Defence Forces as well as deployments with the United Nations, EU and NATO. His overseas experience includes deployments to Lebanon, East Timor, Liberia and Syria with the United Nations; to Kosovo with KFOR and as Liaison Officer to the EU Training Mission in Somalia.
As a Colonel, he has served as Director of Combat Support Branch & ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance). He also established the Officer of Reserve Affairs before taking up his current role as Director of the Transformation Management Office.
Colonel Ó Luasa has served in command appointments including the 4th Cavalry Squadron and the Army Ranger Wing. He also served in a number of key staff appointments including in Strategic Planning Branch, the Training and Education Directorate, and as Military Assistant to the Chief of Staff.
Colonel Ó Luasa’s educational qualifications include a B. Comm from NUIG, an MA in Leadership Management and Defence Studies from the National University of Ireland Maynooth (NUIM), the Common Security and Defence Policy High-Level course and, most recently, a Professional Diploma in Organisational Change and Transformation from the Smurfit Business School, UCD. He is a graduate of the Defence Forces' Senior Command & Staff Course, 2008.
Colm is married to Ciara and they have four children; Padraig, Tadgh, Cathal and Oisín.