Chief of Navy (Australia)

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Chief of the Royal Australian Navy
Crest of the Chief of Navy
Flag of the Chief of Navy
Incumbent
Vice Admiral Mark Hammond
since 6 July 2022
 Royal Australian Navy
StyleVice Admiral
Member ofAustralian Defence Force
Reports toChief of the Defence Force
Term lengthThree years
(renewable)
Formation25 February 1904
First holderRear Admiral
Sir William Creswell
DeputyDeputy Chief of Navy
WebsiteOfficial 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[edit]

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 prefix Name Postnominal(s) Service Term began Term ended Time in Appointment
Director, Commonwealth Naval Forces
Rear Admiral Sir William Rooke Creswell KCMG, KBE CNF 25 February 1904 28 February 1911 7 years, 3 days
First Naval Member, Australian Commonwealth Naval Board
Rear Admiral Sir William Rooke Creswell KCMG, KBE RAN 1 March 1911 9 June 1919 8 years, 100 days
Rear Admiral Sir Percy Grant KCVO, CB RN 10 June 1919 14 February 1921 1 year, 249 days
Vice Admiral Sir Allan Everett KCMG, KCVO, CB RN 24 November 1921 29 August 1923 1 year, 278 days
Rear Admiral Percival Hall-Thompson CB, CMG RN 25 February 1924 28 June 1926 2 years, 123 days
Rear Admiral William Napier CB, CMG, DSO RN 29 June 1926 11 June 1929 2 years, 347 days
Vice Admiral Sir William Munro Kerr KBE, CB RN 21 October 1929 19 October 1931 1 year, 363 days
Admiral Sir George Hyde KCB, CVO, CBE RN/RAN 20 October 1931 28 July 1937 5 years, 281 days
Admiral Sir Ragnar Colvin KBE, CB RN 1 November 1937 3 March 1941 3 years, 122 days
Admiral Sir Guy Royle KCB, CMG, DSO RN 18 July 1941 28 June 1945 3 years, 345 days
Admiral Sir Louis Keppel Hamilton KCB, DSO RN 29 June 1945 23 February 1948 2 years, 239 days
Vice Admiral Sir John Augustine Collins KBE, CB RAN 24 February 1948 23 February 1955 6 years, 364 days
Vice Admiral Sir Roy Dowling KBE, CB, DSO RAN 24 February 1955 23 February 1959 4 years, 0 days
Vice Admiral Sir Henry Burrell KBE, CB RAN 24 February 1959 23 February 1962 2 years, 364 days
Vice Admiral Sir Hastings Harrington KBE, CB, DSO RAN 24 February 1962 23 February 1965 2 years, 365 days
Vice Admiral Sir Alan McNicoll KBE, CB, GM RAN 24 February 1965 2 April 1968 3 years, 38 days
Vice Admiral Sir Victor Smith KBE, CB, DSC RAN 3 April 1968 22 November 1970 2 years, 233 days
Vice Admiral Sir Richard Peek KBE, CB, DSC RAN 23 November 1970 22 November 1973 2 years, 364 days
Vice Admiral Sir David Stevenson AC, KBE RAN 23 November 1973 22 November 1976 2 years, 365 days
Chief of the Naval Staff
Vice Admiral Sir Anthony Synnot KBE, AO RAN 23 November 1976 20 April 1979 2 years, 148 days
Vice Admiral Sir James Willis KBE, AO RAN 21 April 1979 20 April 1982 2 years, 364 days
Vice Admiral David Leach AC, CBE, LVO RAN 21 April 1982 20 April 1985 2 years, 364 days
Admiral[1] Michael Hudson AC RAN 21 April 1985 8 March 1991 5 years, 321 days
Vice Admiral Ian MacDougall AC RAN 9 March 1991 9 March 1994 3 years, 0 days
Vice Admiral Rodney Taylor AO RAN 10 March 1994 18 February 1997 2 years, 345 days
Chief of Navy
Vice Admiral Rodney Taylor AO RAN 19 February 1997 30 June 1997 131 days
Vice Admiral Donald Chalmers AO RAN 1 July 1997 2 July 1999 2 years, 1 day
Vice Admiral David Shackleton AO RAN 3 July 1999 2 July 2002 2 years, 364 days
Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie AO RAN 3 July 2002 3 July 2005 3 years, 0 days
Vice Admiral Russ Shalders AO, CSC RAN 4 July 2005 3 July 2008 2 years, 365 days
Vice Admiral Russ Crane AO, CSM RAN 4 July 2008 7 June 2011 2 years, 338 days
Vice Admiral Ray Griggs AO, CSC RAN 7 June 2011 30 June 2014 3 years, 23 days
Vice Admiral Tim Barrett AO, CSC RAN 30 June 2014 6 July 2018 4 years, 6 days
Vice Admiral Michael Noonan AO RAN 6 July 2018 6 July 2022 4 years, 0 days
Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AO RAN 6 July 2022 Incumbent 1 year, 281 days

Notes[edit]

  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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