VALE
1940-2002
Vice Admiral Rod Taylor
Chief of the Naval Staff
Chief of Navy

1940-2002 Vice Admiral Rod Taylor Chief of the Naval Staff Chief of Navy

Navy News is saddened to report the death of a former Chief of the Naval Staff.

VADM Rod Taylor passed away on Sunday September 1.

A fighting seaman, between 1994 and 1997 he navigated the Navy through one of the most significant changes at all levels of the organisation in its history. Nevertheless, it was typical of Rod Taylor that, while he actively encouraged All Hands to grasp and support the changes for a better Navy, he also strongly encouraged them to remember they were Navy and to preserve its values, ethos, professionalism and identity.

Enlisting in 1954, Rod Taylor was one of the remaining officers who joined the RAN at the age of 13 at the old Naval College at HMAS Cerberus. He graduated three years later as Queen’s Medallist and Grand Aggregate Prizewinner then proceeded to the UK for further training.

Several postings in RN and RAN ships followed and he became a Specialist (N Dagger) Navigator. Chief among these was his posting as a LCDR to HMAS Brisbane on the DDG’s first tour to Vietnam, during which he was Mentioned In Despatches for his outstanding performance.

Other significant non-flag postings were as CO HMAS Vampire, Commander Third Australian Destroyer Squadron and CO, HMAS Torrens. He attended the National Defence College in Canada in 1985.

Promoted to CDRE he served as Deputy Fleet Commander/Chief of Staff before becoming the inaugural COMFLOT in 1989.

In 1990 CDRE Taylor was promoted RADM and served as ACDF (OPS) and DCNS until 1994 when he was promoted VADM and appointed initially as CNS and then, under the Defence Reform Program, to CN.

Until his retirement in 1997 VADM Taylor steered the Navy with great distinction through a period of enormous change, both in management and the introduction of news systems, including the introduction of the Collins submarine and ANZAC frigate.

He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1989 and an Officer in 1992. Also, in 1997 the Singaporean Government awarded him the Meritorious Service Medal (Military) for his “outstanding contribution to the excellent relations between our two countries, and in particular between the ADF and SAF.”

A keen sportsman with a particular interest in cricket and both rugby codes, VADM Taylor also impressed his friends and fellow members with his deep love of the Navy, his genuine friendliness, keen sense of humour and affability, and his deep concern for his fellow Navy men and women.

VADM Taylor probably best provides his own Valedictory in his Haul Down speech as CN when he said, “If people should ask in the future what I did with my life, I shall be proud to say that I served as an officer in the Royal Australian Navy.”

On behalf of Navy News and the Navy family, this Assistant-Editor, who once was privileged to serve with Rod, passes our deepest condolences to his widow, Judy and son Sean.

To the Admiral we say, “Rest in Peace, Sir. May your winds now be ever fair and the seas for ever at your stern.”

Rest in peace.

• By LCDR Andrew Stackpool with Graham Davis

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