John Jensen (public servant)
Sir John Klunder Jensen OBE (20 March 1884 – 17 February 1970) was a senior Australian public servant. He was Secretary of the Department of Munitions between 1942 and 1948. Life and careerJohn Jensen was born in Bendigo, Victoria on 20 March 1884.[1] He joined the Commonwealth Public Service in 1901, the year of Australia's federation and the year the service was first established.[1] In 1920, Jensen visited the United States on rifle-manufacturing business, and he went on to study factory administration in England and in the United States.[2] In January 1942, Jensen was appointed Secretary of the Department of Munitions.[3][4] During his time as permanent head of the Munitions department, he was a member of the Allied Supply Standing Committee and the executive of the Allied Supply Council.[5] In the role, he played a leading part in organizing munitions supply during World War II.[6] His department was abolished in 1948 after scaling down after the world war.[5] At this time, Jensen was moved to head the Department of Supply and Development.[7] In his role at the Department of Supply and Development, he found himself frequently journeying to South Australia, including to visit the Woomera Rocket Range, and in connection to uranium mining.[8] Jensen retired in 1949.[9] Immediately after retirement he took work as a member of the Commonwealth Immigration Planning Council.[5] On 17 February 1970, Jensen died in Hawthorn, Melbourne.[1] Awards and honoursIn 1938, Jensen was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.[10] In the 1950 Birthday Honours he was made a Knight Bachelor, for services to munitions production.[11] In December 1969, the Victorian headquarters of the Department of Supply was named Jensen House in John Jensen's honour.[1] References
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