Chief of Navy (Australia)

Chief of the Royal Australian Navy
Crest of the Chief of Navy
Flag of the Chief of Navy
Incumbent Tim Barrett since 30 June 2014
Style	Vice Admiral
Member of	Australian Defence Force
Reports to	Chief of the Defence Force
Term length	Three years (renewable)
Inaugural holder	Rear Admiral Sir William Creswell
Formation	25 February 1904

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 Tim Barrett is the current Chief of Navy and assumed the position on 30 June 2014.

Appointees

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