Australian Peacekeeping Memorial Project

Commander Shane Connelly originally began his career as member of the ADF. From 1979 to 1983 he served as a member of the Royal Australian Air Force. In 1984 he joined the Australian Federal Police where he served in various community policing roles predominantly in the Australian Capital Territory.

In 1992, Shane served in Cambodia as part of the UN Transition Authority (UNTAC).

In 1995 he was promoted to the rank of Detective Sergeant and transferred to the Internal Affairs Division of the AFP. Following this he served as the Station OIC of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. He returned to Australia in 1997 to lead an Asian Organised Crime Team for a period of two years. In 1999 he was appointed as the AFP Law Enforcement Liaison Officer for the Australian Federal Minister for Justice and Customs.

In 2001 he returned to Federal Policing Operations and was promoted to the rank of Superintendent. He then served in a variety of National Policing Roles in the Dignitary Protection portfolio.

In 2003 he was promoted to the rank of Commander and took up the position of Director of National Investigations. In 2004 a new portfolio of Economic Crime and Special Operations was established in the AFP and Commander Connelly was appointed as the National Manager for this portfolio. In 2005 Commander Connelly returned to ACT Community Policing where he took up his current role as Deputy Chief Police Officer Investigations and Support.

Shane's sporting interests include; Yacht Racing, Surfing and Skiing.