Russ Shalders

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Russell Edward Shalders
File:Russ Shalders portrait.jpg
Vice Admiral Russ Shalders in August 2008
Born (1951-09-28) 28 September 1951 (age 72)
Ararat, Victoria
Allegiance  Australia
Service/branch  Royal Australian Navy
Years of service 1967–2008
Rank Vice Admiral
Commands held Chief of Navy
Vice Chief of the Defence Force
HMAS Darwin
HMAS Sydney
HMAS Perth
Battles/wars Vietnam War
Gulf War
Awards Officer of the Order of Australia
Conspicuous Service Cross
Meritorious Service Medal (Singapore)

Vice Admiral Russell Edward Shalders AO, CSC, RAN, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (born 28 September 1951) is a retired admiral of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). He served as Vice Chief of the Australian Defence Force from 2002 to 2005, and as Chief of Navy from 2005 to 2008.

Naval career

Shalders entered the Royal Australian Naval College at Jervis Bay in 1967. After sea training he undertook Operations and Weapons courses in the United Kingdom. On returning to Australia, he was posted as Executive Officer of the patrol boat HMAS Ardent, then joined HMAS Vendetta, before he assumed command of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force patrol boat Samarai.

He then served as Divisional Officer at the RAN College in 1976, and then in HMAS Perth prior to Principal Warfare Officer training in the UK in 1978. He returned as Operations and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Officer aboard HMAS Vendetta, then was an officer's posting officer in Canberra.

After promotion to lieutenant commander in 1981, he completed the Naval Staff Course for International Officers at the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island and then undertook Advanced Warfare Officer training in the UK, specialising in anti-submarine warfare. He joined HMAS Hobart as ASW Officer and Operations Officer in 1982, but completed this posting as Executive Officer.

In the rank of commander, he then served at the RAN Staff College as a member of the Directing Staff from mid-1984. After two years at the embassy in Washington, D.C. in 1986–87, he assumed command of HMAS Sydney and was then appointed as Commander, Sea Training.

File:Admiral Russ Shalders.jpg
Russ Shalders, then Chief of Navy, is greeted by Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd at the 2008 National Anzac Day service, Australian War Memorial, Canberra.

On promotion to captain, he was posted at short notice to command HMAS Darwin during the Persian Gulf War, and was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross[1] in recognition of this period in command. In 1991, he become Director of Naval Warfare and subsequently Director General Naval Policy and Warfare. Shalders commanded HMAS Perth in 1993–94 and attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in London in 1995.

On promotion to commodore, he was appointed as Director General Joint Exercise Plans and then Director General Operations Policy and Doctrine and Director General Information Strategic Concepts. He returned to the Fleet to become Commodore Flotillas in January 1998, responsible for the operational efficiency of all fleet units.

On promotion to rear admiral in July 1999, he was seconded to the Australian Customs Service as the inaugural Director General Coastwatch. He was appointed as Head, Defence Personnel Executive in 2001.

Shalders was promoted to vice admiral and appointed as Vice Chief of the Defence Force in July 2002. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours list of 2003.[2]

On 23 May 2005, the Minister for Defence announced that Shalders would succeed Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie as Chief of Navy from July 2005 for a three-year term. He retired from this position, and the Navy, on 4 July 2008.

Personal

In his spare time, Shalders enjoys golf, jogging and gardening.

Shalders' brother, Commodore Richard Shalders, was Commander Australian Navy Submarine Group (CANSG)[3][4] until his retirement in July 2008.

Awards

Order of Australia (Military) ribbon.png CSC Australia ribbon.png Australian Active Service Medal 1945-75 ribbon.png

Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal ribbon.png Australian Service Medal 1945-1975 ribbon.png Australian Service Medal ribbon.png Centenary Medal (Australia) ribbon.png

DFSM with Fed Star.png National Medal (Australia) ribbon.png Australian Defence Medal (Australia) ribbon.png Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) ribbon.png

Order of Australia (Military) ribbon.png Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) 26 January 2003[2]
CSC Australia ribbon.png Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) 4 November 1991[1]
Australian Active Service Medal 1945-75 ribbon.png Australian Active Service Medal 1945-1975 with VIETNAM clasp
Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal ribbon.png Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal
Australian Service Medal 1945-1975 ribbon.png Australian Service Medal 1945-1975 with FESR and PNG clasps
Australian Service Medal ribbon.png Australian Service Medal with KUWAIT clasp
Centenary Medal (Australia) ribbon.png Centenary Medal 1 January 2001[5]
DFSM with Fed Star.png Defence Force Service Medal with Federation Star (40–44 years service)
National Medal (Australia) ribbon.png National Medal 9 March 1991[6]
Australian Defence Medal (Australia) ribbon.png Australian Defence Medal
Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) ribbon.png Meritorious Service Medal
Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera)
Singapore

References and notes

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  3. HMAS Rankin awarded Gloucester Cup L-R: RADM Coates, MajGen Jeffery (Rtd), Cmdr Stanford, Cdre Richard Shalders, 8 April 2008 (Hi res) (source) (copyright)
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External links

Military offices
Preceded by
Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie
Chief of Navy
2005–2008
Succeeded by
Vice Admiral Russell Crane
Preceded by
Lieutenant General Desmond Mueller
Vice Chief of the Defence Force
2002–2005
Succeeded by
Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie