Chief of Navy (Australia)

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Chief of the Royal Australian Navy
Chief Of Navy Australia.png
Crest of the Chief of Navy
Flag of the Australian Navy Board.svg
Flag of the Chief of Navy
Incumbent
Vice Admiral Mark Hammond
since 6 July 2022
Naval Ensign of Australia.svg  Royal Australian Navy
Style Vice Admiral
Member of Australian Defence Force
Reports to Chief of the Defence Force
Term length Three years
(renewable)
Formation25 February 1904
First holderRear Admiral
Sir William Creswell
Deputy Deputy Chief of Navy
Website Official website

The Chief of Navy is the most senior appointment in the Royal Australian Navy, responsible to the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) and the Secretary of Defence. The rank associated with the position is vice admiral (3-star).

Vice Admiral Mark Hammond is the current Chief of Navy; he assumed the position on 6 July 2022.

Appointees

Vice Admiral Russ Shalders, the then Chief of Navy, being greeted by then Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd at the 2008 National Anzac Day Service, Australian War Memorial, Canberra Admiral Russ Shalders.jpg
Vice Admiral Russ Shalders, the then Chief of Navy, being greeted by then Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd at the 2008 National Anzac Day Service, Australian War Memorial, Canberra

The following list chronologically records those who have held the post of Chief of Navy or its preceding positions. Rank and honours are as at the completion of the individual's tours.

Rank and prefixNamePostnominal(s)ServiceTerm beganTerm endedTime in Appointment
Director, Commonwealth Naval Forces
Rear Admiral Sir William Rooke Creswell KCMG, KBE CNF 25 February 190428 February 19117 years, 3 days
First Naval Member, Australian Commonwealth Naval Board
Rear Admiral Sir William Rooke Creswell KCMG, KBE RAN1 March 19119 June 19198 years, 100 days
Rear Admiral Sir Percy Grant KCVO, CB RN 10 June 191914 February 19211 year, 249 days
Vice Admiral Sir Allan Everett KCMG, KCVO, CB RN24 November 192129 August 19231 year, 278 days
Rear Admiral Percival Hall-Thompson CB, CMG RN25 February 192428 June 19262 years, 123 days
Rear Admiral William Napier CB, CMG, DSO RN29 June 192611 June 19292 years, 347 days
Vice Admiral Sir William Munro Kerr KBE, CB RN21 October 192919 October 19311 year, 363 days
Admiral Sir George Hyde KCB, CVO, CBE RN/RAN20 October 193128 July 19375 years, 281 days
Admiral Sir Ragnar Colvin KBE, CB RN1 November 19373 March 19413 years, 122 days
Admiral Sir Guy Royle KCB, CMG, DSO RN18 July 194128 June 19453 years, 345 days
Admiral Sir Louis Keppel Hamilton KCB, DSO RN29 June 194523 February 19482 years, 239 days
Vice Admiral Sir John Augustine Collins KBE, CB RAN24 February 194823 February 19556 years, 364 days
Vice Admiral Sir Roy Dowling KBE, CB, DSO RAN24 February 195523 February 19594 years, 0 days
Vice Admiral Sir Henry Burrell KBE, CB RAN24 February 195923 February 19622 years, 364 days
Vice Admiral Sir Hastings Harrington KBE, CB, DSO RAN24 February 196223 February 19652 years, 365 days
Vice Admiral Sir Alan McNicoll KBE, CB, GM RAN24 February 19652 April 19683 years, 38 days
Vice Admiral Sir Victor Smith KBE, CB, DSC RAN3 April 196822 November 19702 years, 233 days
Vice Admiral Sir Richard Peek KBE, CB, DSC RAN23 November 197022 November 19732 years, 364 days
Vice Admiral Sir David Stevenson AC, KBE RAN23 November 197322 November 19762 years, 365 days
Chief of the Naval Staff
Vice Admiral Sir Anthony Synnot KBE, AO RAN23 November 197620 April 19792 years, 148 days
Vice Admiral Sir James Willis KBE, AO RAN21 April 197920 April 19822 years, 364 days
Vice Admiral David Leach AC, CBE, LVO RAN21 April 198220 April 19852 years, 364 days
Admiral [1] Michael Hudson AC RAN21 April 19858 March 19915 years, 321 days
Vice Admiral Ian MacDougall AC RAN9 March 19919 March 19943 years, 0 days
Vice Admiral Rodney Taylor AO RAN10 March 199418 February 19972 years, 345 days
Chief of Navy
Vice Admiral Rodney Taylor AO RAN19 February 199730 June 1997131 days
Vice Admiral Donald Chalmers AO RAN1 July 19972 July 19992 years, 1 day
Vice Admiral David Shackleton AO RAN3 July 19992 July 20022 years, 364 days
Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie AO RAN3 July 20023 July 20053 years, 0 days
Vice Admiral Russ Shalders AO, CSC RAN4 July 20053 July 20082 years, 365 days
Vice Admiral Russ Crane AO, CSM RAN4 July 20087 June 20112 years, 338 days
Vice Admiral Ray Griggs AO, CSC RAN7 June 201130 June 20143 years, 23 days
Vice Admiral Tim Barrett AO, CSC RAN30 June 20146 July 20184 years, 6 days
Vice Admiral Michael Noonan AO RAN6 July 20186 July 20224 years, 0 days
Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AO RAN6 July 2022Incumbent1 year, 117 days

Notes

  1. Hudson was promoted to vice admiral and appointed Chief of Naval Staff on 21 April 1985. He served in that position as a vice admiral for almost 6 years. On the day of his retirement, 8 March 1991, Prime Minister Bob Hawke promoted Hudson to the rank of admiral to honour his distinguished forty-four years of service to the Navy. Obituary Archived 4 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine , Naval Historical Review, March 2005, pp.32-33. Australian Naval History on 8 March 1991, Naval Historical Society of Australia.

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