Major General Daniel Francis McDaniel, DSC, AM, DSM is a retired senior officer of the Australian Army.

He served as the acting Special Operations Commander Australia from September 2013 to December 2014, after Major General Gus Gilmore was reassigned.

In September 2013, after Major General Gus Gilmore was reassigned, McDaniel was appointed acting Special Operations Commander Australia.

[10][11] McDaniel was awarded the United States Legion of Merit for his performance in the role, before handing over to Major General Chris Smith in January 2022.

Daniel senior was an officer in the Australian Army who, following service in the Vietnam War, raised the first counter-terrorist squadron of the SASR and retired as a lieutenant colonel.