Retirement No 2 looms large for WO Stroud

By CPO Jak Goudman

CPOSN Jak Goudman (left) is handed Brand Manager duties from WOCSMSM Greg Stroud.

After 27 years of dedicated service to the RAN WO Greg Stroud is retiring (again). This time he is actually leaving the Navy, but will still maintain close links as he intends to take up a job at the recently opened Navy Wharf at Eden.

When Greg paid off the first time, after 23 years, to retire to Eden on the NSW far south coast, the last thing on his mind was the future of the Navy. Little did he know that he would play a very large part in reshaping the Navy only three months after his discharge date.

Greg didn’t hesitate to agree when RADM Smith, then DCN, asked him to be part of Tomorrows Navy Team (TNT). TNT did change the Navy, being instrumental in setting up the Force Element Groups and SYSCOM among a myriad of other changes.

Another TNT recommendation was the Personnel Action Team (PERSAT) which was formed to try to find ways to boost recruiting and look for solutions to the retention problems.

Greg was soon heavily involved in PERSAT, and helped find solutions for many of the problems. (Some of PERSAT’s long term recommendations are still being worked on).

Brand Navy was formed after PERSAT and again WO Stroud stepped up to the plate, becoming the Navy’s first Brand Manager. Greg has implemented a Brand system that is recognisable as the “Face of the Navy”, both to internal and external audiences.

He is responsible for the easy to use and money saving templates for print items such as Minutes, Memos, faxes and PowerPoint presentations that the RAN uses on a daily basis. He also designed and implemented a complete and very comprehensive Brand Navy style guide for design houses and graphic artists to use.

We would like to wish Greg all the best for the future from his many friends in the RAN, and advise that all Brand Navy requests should now be directed to CPO Jak Goudman (02) 6265 7304 or email
Jak.Goudman1@defence.gov.au

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