John Coates (general)

John Coates (born 1944) is a retired Australian Army officer who served as the Commander of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) contingent in East Timor (INTERFET) during Operation Tanager from May 2000 to February 2001.

Coates graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon. His career included postings within Australia and overseas. Prior to his role in East Timor, he held senior command positions. He is known for his leadership during the challenging period of peacekeeping and nation-building in East Timor.

Following his retirement from the military, Coates became a prominent author and commentator on military history, strategy, and leadership. His publications include books and articles on Australian military history and contemporary strategic issues. He has also been involved in defence-related research and analysis. He is considered an expert on peacekeeping operations and the challenges of post-conflict reconstruction.