Commander Australian Fleet

REAR ADMIRAL Nigel Stephen COATES, AM, RAN - Rear Admiral Coates joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1975, graduating from his initial training with the Queen’s Gold Medal as the dux of his graduating year. Bridge watchkeeping training was carried out in various ships, culminating in the award of the Jubilee Sword as dux of Seamen Officers training.

After a period as aide-de-camp to His Excellency the Governor General of Australia, he trained as an Air Intercept Controller and subsequently as a Principal Warfare Officer. He served in HMA Ships HOBART, ADELAIDE and BRISBANE before joining the Navy’s Maritime Headquarters, receiving a Maritime Commander’s Commendation for his contribution to preparing ships for the 1991 Gulf War.

As Executive Officer HMAS DARWIN, he saw service in the Red Sea before being promoted to Commander in 1993. He served as the Senior Military instructor, and subsequently Commanding Officer, of the Corps of Officer Cadets at the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra, receiving a Chief of the Defence Force Commendation for his work there.

In 1996 Commander Coates assumed command of HMAS CANBERRA, winning the Gloucester Cup in 1997 as the most efficient ship in the Royal Australian Navy. From HMAS CANBERRA, Commander Coates spent 18 months as Commander Sea Training at Maritime Headquarters, followed by another 18 months at the US Naval War College and Salve Regina University, graduating with a MA (International Relations).  

Assuming Command of HMAS ANZAC in 2001, Captain Coates took the ship on operational deployment to the Arabian Gulf. The ship was awarded the Gloucester Cup as the most efficient ship in the RAN for 2001, and Captain Coates was appointed a member of the Order of Australia for his service in HMAS ANZAC.

Deputy Fleet Commander

COMMODORE S.T. Cullen AM RAN - Commodore Cullen completed primary and secondary schooling in Western Australia before joining the Royal Australian Navy in 1977 as a Seaman Officer. After initial officer training both at sea and ashore, Commodore Cullen gained his Primary Qualification in HMAS BRISBANE in 1979.

Commodore Cullen’s initial career postings were to HMA ships SNIPE, BOMBARD and PARRAMATTA. In 1984 he undertook a posting to HMAS STIRLING as the Assistant Operations Officer before commencing Warfare Officer training in the United Kingdom, specialising in Anti-Submarine Warfare.

On completion of his training, Commodore Cullen returned to Australia to take up Anti – Submarine Warfare duties in HMAS SYDNEY. This was followed by a posting to HMAS WATSON in Sydney, as an instructor on the Australian Warfare Officers course (following repatriation of the course to Australia from the United Kingdom).

Commodore Cullen was selected to undertake an exchange posting with the Royal Navy in 1987, where he served in HM ships BRAZEN and PENELOPE and on the staff of Flag Officer Sea Training. Returning to Australia in 1990, he completed the Royal Australian Navy’s Staff Course before undertaking a posting as a Staff Officer in the Warfare Branch of Navy Office in Canberra. This was followed by postings as Operations Officer to Commodore Flotilla’s and Executive Officer of HMAS DERWENT.

On promotion to Commander in 1994, Commodore Cullen was posted ashore to undertake duties as Commander Operations West at HMAS STIRLING. In 1987 Commodore Cullen returned to Canberra as the Deputy Director of Sailors’ Career Management.

Commodore Cullen commanded HMAS SYDNEY from April 1999 until November 2000, during which time the ship played an active role supporting INTERFET in East Timor and acted as the Guardship for the Sydney Olympic Games.

On Completion of his posting to HMAS SYDNEY, Commodore Cullen was promoted to Captain and was posted to Canberra, where amongst other duties, he was the Director of Naval Communications, Intelligence and Electronic Warfare. Commodore Cullen assumed command of HMAS ALBATROSS in late December 2002.

In May 2004, Commodore Cullen assumed duties as Chief of Staff to Commander Joint Task Force 633 in Baghdad. Upon his return to Australia he undertook a posting as Chief of Staff in Navy Systems Command in Canberra.

Commodore Cullen was promoted to his current rank in July 2005 and posted to Headquarters United States Central Command in Tampa Florida as the Director of the Combined Planning Group. In August 2006 he assumed additional duties as the Deputy Director Strategy, Plans and Policy in Central Command.

Commodore Cullen returned to Australia in late 2007, to assume his present posting as the Deputy Commander of the Australian Fleet.

Commodore Cullen is the recipient of Commendations from Commander INTERFET and Chief of Navy, and was made a member of the Order of Australia in 2005.

Commander Task Group

Captain Philip Spedding DSC, OAM, RAN - Captain Spedding joined the Navy through the College at HMAS Creswell in 1982 and graduated in 1984. After initial sea training in HMA Ships Jervis Bay and Vampire, he qualified as a Seaman Officer on exchange with the Canadian Navy in 1986.

Undertaking Principal Warfare Officer (PWO) training in 1990, Captain Spedding specialised in Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW). After undertaking PWO duties in HMA Ships Stuart and Canberra, he completed an exchange tour with the Royal Navy where he deployed on operations off the former Yugoslavia. Captain Spedding’s last ASW related posting was as Fleet ASW Officer at Maritime Headquarters.

Captain Spedding’s shore postings have included Flag Lieutenant to the Fleet Commander, desk officer in the Directorate of Naval Officer’s Postings, Directing Staff at the Australian Command and Staff College, and Director of Maritime Combat Development in the Capability Development Group. He was also Commander Australian Theatre’s Liaison Officer with the United States Navy’s Fifth Fleet during Operations Slipper, Bastille and Falconer.

His command experience includes the Patrol Boat HMAS Townsville and the Frigate HMAS Stuart. During his period in command of Stuart, the shipwas deployed on Operations Relex and Catalyst.  He assumed his current position as Commander Australian Surface Task Group in October 2006 and has since exercised Task Group Command during Operations Quickstep (Fiji) and Catalyst (North Persian Gulf).

Captain Spedding is a graduate of the Australian Command and Staff Course and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Science and a Masters Degree in Management (Defence Studies). He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his planning duties during Operations Bastille and Falconer, and the Distinguished Service Cross for his service during Operation Catalyst in 2004