Inspiring others on and off the job

A new president has been elected for the Moss Vale RSL Sub-Branch and brings with him a wealth of experience in law enforcement, academia, digital forensics and military service with both the New Zealand and Australian Defence Forces.

Moss Vale RSL Sub-Branch president SQNLDR Allan Watt maintains a long-standing commitment to service, combining community leadership with a key role in Defence cyber operations.

“Being elected president was unexpected, but it’s a real honour to be trusted with the role,” SQNLDR Watt said. 

“The sense of shared purpose and community connection is incredibly rewarding.”

The Moss Vale RSL Sub-Branch is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting veterans and their families through community connection, recreation and commemoration.

SQNLDR Watt said his Defence service has played a key role in preparing him for the position. 

“My experience across Defence, operations, law enforcement and academia has built a diverse leadership skill set that I believe will serve me well in this role,” he said.

The appointment follows SQNLDR Watt’s earlier service as president of the New Zealand RSL Sub-Branch, which he said also helped prepare him for the responsibilities of the role. 

Alongside his community leadership, SQNLDR Watt serves within the Defence Cyber and Information Assurance Branch, working to strengthen Defence’s cyber resilience in an increasingly contested digital environment.

“Cyber is a fast-paced environment, but that’s also what makes it interesting,” he said. 

“At its core, [the Defence Cyber and Information Assurance Branch] is about ensuring Defence can function effectively, even when systems are operating under pressure.”

His transition into Defence cyber capability was shaped during the COVID-19 period, which prompted a reassessment of how his specialist skills could best be applied.

“COVID-19 changed a lot of things,” he said.

“It created an opportunity to apply my skills where they were needed, and Air Force was looking for people with practical cyber and digital forensics experience.”

Drawing on operational and academic experience, SQNLDR Watt continues to contribute to strengthening Defence’s cyber assurance operations, while supporting veterans and their families through leadership and service in the RSL community.