Defence Leaders: Other Leaders
Vice Admiral Matt Tripovich AM CSC RAN
Chief Capability Development Group
Vice Admiral Tripovich joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1974. As a junior officer he served in a number of large and small combatants before completing his warfare training in the UK in 1984. A series of sea and shore appointments subsequently allowed him to consolidate his professional skills.
As a Commander he saw operational service as Executive Officer HMAS BRISBANE during hostilities in the 1990-91 Persian Gulf war, and commanded the frigate HMAS CANBERRA in 1994-96. As a Captain he commanded the frigate HMAS ANZAC in 1999-2001, which included operational service off East Timor.
Promoted to Commodore in 2001, he was appointed Director General Naval Capability, Performance and Plans before returning to sea as Commodore Flotillas in 2002 to lead the Australian Fleet Sea Training Group and the Deployable Joint Force Headquarters (Maritime), which provided deployed command staff for most of the major exercises and real world operations in which the RAN was involved, including operations in the Middle East and the Solomon Islands. In 2004, he moved ashore and became Director General Navy Personnel and Training at Navy Headquarters. He was promoted to Rear Admiral on 1 July 2005 and assumed duties as Head of Capability Systems in Australian Defence Headquarters. On 28 September 2007 he was promoted to Vice Admiral and assumed his current position as Chief Capability Development Group.
Vice Admiral Tripovich was awarded a Chief of Navy’s Commendation in 1988, and the Conspicuous Service Cross for his service in HMAS BRISBANE during the 1990-91 Gulf War. In June 2005 he was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for exceptional service to the Royal Australian Navy in the three appointments that he held as a Commodore.
Vice Admiral Tripovich has a Graduate Diploma in Strategic Studies, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD). He is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program and a member of the Harvard Alumni. He and his wife have a son and a daughter, he rides a Harley Davidson and he is an enthusiastic fly fisherman.