Defence Leaders: Navy
Rear Admiral Russell Crane, CSM, RAN
Deputy Chief of Navy (DCN)
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Russell Crane began his naval career as a Junior Recruit at HMAS LEEUWIN in 1970. Training as an Electrical Mechanic in aircraft communications, in 1971 he went to serve in the Aircraft Carrier, HMAS MELBOURNE. Following selection for officer training in 1972, he began training as a Seaman Officer serving in numerous RAN establishments and ships including HMA Ships ANZAC, DUCHESS, SYDNEY, STALWART, and BRISBANE. He was awarded a full bridge watchkeeping certificate in 1975 while serving in HMAS DERWENT.
Following a further posting to sea in HMAS STUART Sub Lieutenant Crane pursued Clearance Diving as a sub specialisation, completing the Minewarfare and Clearance Diving Officers Course at HMAS PENGUIN and HMS VERNON in UK during 1977. He was appointed as Minehunting Control Officer in the Minehunter HMAS CURLEW, in 1978 and promoted to Lieutenant during the same year. In 1979 he was posted to HMAS MELBOURNE as the Carrier Air Group Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer and as a bridge watchkeeping officer. In 1981 after a short period in charge of the RAN Experimental Diving Unit, Clearance Diving Team 2, Lieutenant Crane was posted to HMS VERNON as a Minewarfare Instructor on 2 years exchange service with the Royal Navy.
On return to Australia in 1983 he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and appointed in command of HMAS CURLEW. Following a period of 2 ½ years in Command, Lieutenant Commander Crane was posted as the Staff Officer Minewarfare to the Commander Australian Minewarfare and Patrol Boat Forces. He was posted to HMAS TORRENS, a Sydney based Destroyer Escort, as the Executive Officer in 1988 and on completion of this appointment was promoted to Commander and posted to the Equipment Acquisition Division in Navy Office Canberra.
Commander Crane was appointed as the inaugural Project Director for the Australian Minehunter Coastal Project in 1991 before being selected for the Major Fleet Unit Command. In 1993 he was posted as Commanding Officer HMAS DERWENT, a Destroyer Escort based in Western Australia. He decommissioned HMAS DERWENT in August 1994 and on completion, returned to Navy Office Canberra for a short period, before being posted as the Director of the Maritime Intelligence Centre in Sydney in late 1994. Following a period of reorganisation in the provision of intelligence support to the fleet during which Commander Crane was responsible for the transition of the Maritime Intelligence Centre to Headquarter Australian Theatre, he was promoted to Captain in January 1996 and appointed as the Chief Staff Officer Command and Control, Communications and Intelligence in Maritime Headquarters.
Captain Crane assumed command of HMAS SUCCESS on 24 November 1998. During his period in command SUCCESS conducted a number of deployments to the South East Asia region including, in September and October 1999, Operation Stabilise in support of peacekeeping operations in East Timor. Awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal in early 2000 for his time in HMAS SUCCESS, he was promoted to Commodore in March 2000 and posted to Australian Defence Headquarters in Canberra as the Director General Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare. Commodore Crane was posted as the Commander Australian Naval Systems Command in October 2001. Promoted to Rear Admiral in May 2004 he served as Director General Coastwatch and the inaugural Commander of the newly formed Joint Offshore Protection Command in January 2005. Rear Admiral Crane became the Deputy Chief of Navy in June 2006.