Commodore Ranford Elsey joined the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (RANR) in 1969. He pursued dual careers, studying naval and academic subjects concurrently, culminating in a Naval Commission and a Diploma in Teaching several years later.

His first naval posting was as an officer under training in the Attack Class Patrol Boat (ACPB) HMAS ARCHER, the assigned training vessel for the Sydney Port Division, RANR. He enjoyed postings to a number of HMA Ships engaged in patrols, Fleet Concentration Periods and RANR combined exercises. A Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate was awarded in HMAS SUPPLY and an Ocean Navigation Certificate was gained in HMAS ADVANCE. Subsequent postings followed as Navigator and Executive Officer in Fremantle Class Patrol Boats (FCPB). A teacher with the NSW Department of Education, he was appointed as a Demonstration Teacher and later a Curriculum Consultant specialising in Mathematics K-12. A Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in Geomorphology and Education was awarded in 1978.

In 1982, he was named as a Peter Mitchell Prizeman (Navy Officers) and received a Chief of Navy Commendation. Further study in both careers led to an unrestricted Minor War Vessel Command Certificate in 1984, the RANR Staff Course, and a Master of Arts (Ed) degree in 1986. During the same year, he was promoted Lieutenant Commander and awarded the Reserve Force Decoration (RFD).

Commodore Elsey had sea command of three ACPBs, HMA Ships ADVANCE, ARDENT and BAYONET and two FCPBs, HMA Ships WARRNAMBOOL and FREMANTLE. A highlight was command of HMAS WARRNAMBOOL for a joint exercise with the Royal New Zealand Navy in the picturesque Queen Charlotte Sound region of New Zealand’s South Island. In civilian employment, he has held two Headmaster’s positions in independent schools in Victoria and New South Wales during the years 1986 to 1993. In 1991, he was awarded the First Clasp to the RFD. With full integration of the Australian Naval Reserve (ANR) with the Permanent Naval Forces (PNF) in 1992, he was posted to HMAS WATERHEN where he conducted FCPB training for Seaman Junior Officers.

In July 1993, concentrating on his naval career, he undertook Continuous Full Time Service (CFTS) with project development work in Mine Countermeasures, and an operational posting as Commanding Officer, HMAS WARRNAMBOOL, during which time the ship was deployed to the South West Pacific and he was selected for promotion to Commander.

Completing CFTS in April 1995, he formed his own business and was engaged by the Sydney office of the law firm Mallesons Stephen Jaques (MSJ) as a consultant in Information Technology/Management. He joined the firm the following year as National Information Technology Project Manager. A posting as Chief Staff Officer (Reserves) to Naval Support Command Headquarters in July 1996 involved him in policy development and advice to the Naval Support Commander on the state of Reserves. Other duties included a posting as Senior Reserve Officer (SRO) - NSW/ACT and an attached role on the State Executive of the Defence Reserves Support Council (DRSC) NSW as Navy representative with particular responsibilities for conducting Exercise Executive Stretch. He was awarded the Second Clasp to the RFD. In 1997 he was posted as the Chief Staff Officer (Reserves) to Maritime Headquarters and continued as SRO - NSW/ACT.

Both naval and civilian careers were furthered in 1998 when Commodore Elsey was posted as Director, Reserve Policy & Information (Office of DGRES-N). The new position of National ICT Program Manager with MSJ brought increased responsibilities and challenges in his civilian career. In July 2000, he was appointed as Director, Reserve Capability Development, NHQ (Office of DGRES-N). Leaving MSJ at the end of 2001, he continued work as a management consultant until joining Telstra in July 2002 as an Enterprise Program Director for major technology outsourcing accounts. Commodore Elsey completed his watch with DRSC in May 2002 prior to promotion to Captain on 01 January 2003, where he continued in the role of Director, Naval Reserve Support – National.

Commodore Elsey was appointed Director General Reserves – Navy on 01 October 2005. He enjoys the challenge of leading the Naval Reserve; quantifying and developing Naval Reserve capability in the RAN and Defence; and supporting Chief of Navy. In civilian life, he returned to management consulting in November 2005, after 2½ years as Director National Program Office for Telstra’s customer project management.

He is married to Julia, Headmistress (Junior School), Roseville College, in Sydney. They have a son and two daughters aged 28, 27 and 25. The girls are married and living in Muswellbrook and Denver. He enjoys music, bush camping and 4WD touring, building and construction, golf, touch rugby, rugby union, cricket and white water canoeing - although the latter three are more from a spectator’s viewpoint now!