The federal government wants the next election to be run with military precision.
Former Army Brigadier Kathryn Toohey has been appointed deputy electoral commissioner for five years.
Ms Toohey is currently the director-general of the integrated capability development branch in the Department of Defence.
She began her military career in 1987, specialising in communications and electronic warfare, and served as a troop commander with the United Nations mission in Cambodia.
"The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) will benefit from her extensive project management experience, forward thinking and operational efficiency," Special Minister of State Mathias Cormann said on Friday.
The AEC is aiming not to repeat its major blunder in 2013 when ballot papers went missing in Western Australia and the entire WA Senate election had to be re-run.
New systems to track ballot papers have been put in place.
The government has also re-appointed Douglas Orr as electoral officer for NSW.
Mr Orr has been a key figure in the AEC's internal changes being rolled out in the wake of the 2013 problems.
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