Angus Campbell attended the Royal Military College, Duntroon, from 1981 to 1984. He graduated into the Infantry Corps and initially served as a platoon commander in the 3rd Battalion (Parachute), the Royal Australian Regiment.
His regimental service then included Troop and Squadron command in the Special Air Service Regiment. In 2001-2002, he commanded the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment. While in command he led the 2nd Battalion Group deployment to East Timor, as a component of the United Nations Transitional Administration East Timor.
He has also served in a range of staff appointments including as Aide-de-Camp to the Chief of Army, as a strategic policy officer in Army Headquarters, an instructor at the Australian Command and Staff College and Chief of Staff to the Chief of the Defence Force.
In late 2005, he joined the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet as a First Assistant Secretary to head the Office of National Security and was subsequently promoted to Deputy Secretary and appointed to the position of Deputy National Security Adviser. In these roles he was responsible for the preparation of advice to the Prime Minister on national security issues and coordinating the development of whole-of-government national security policy.
Upon his return to the Australian Defence Force in early 2010 he was appointed to the rank of Major General and led the Military Strategic Commitments staff in Defence headquarters until January 2011, when he assumed command of all Australian forces deployed in the Middle East Area of Operations. He was appointed Deputy Chief of Army on 26 February 2012.
He has a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from the University of New South Wales, a Master of Philosophy in International Relations from Cambridge University and he is a graduate of the Australian Army Command and Staff College.
Major General Campbell is married to Stephanie and they have two teenage children.