New beginnings as Navy Chief bids farewell

NAVY HONOURS: RADM Russ Shalders and VADM Chris Ritchie and their partners attend the Navy Chief change of command ceremony.

Photo: ABPH Kade Rogers

By ABPH Kade Rogers

As the sun set over HMAS Harman on July 3, WO-N David Turner presented VADM Chris Ritchie with the Chief of Navy’s flag as it was lowered for the last time.
The small ceremony heralded the retirement of VADM Ritchie after almost 40 years service.

Reflecting on his lengthy career, the outgoing Chief of Navy addressed the gathering as he pondered over his next appointment.

“A smart sailor in my office told me that the Federation Guard could use good right hand marker,” the six-foot-plus VADM Ritchie said.

VADM Ritchie graduated from the RAN College in 1968 and his commands have included HMAS Tarakan, HMAS Torrens and HMAS Brisbane.

He was appointed a Member in the Military Division of the Order of Australia in 1991 as a result of his period in command of Brisbane during the first Gulf War in the early nineties.

VADM Ritchie was appointed as Maritime Commander in 1997 and then served briefly as Deputy Chief of Navy before being appointed as Head of Capability Systems in 1999.

He was promoted to Officer in the Military Division of the Order of Australia in 2001 and took up the appointment of Chief of Navy on July 3, 2002.

VADM Russ Shalders accepted the appointment as Chief of the Navy with effect from July 3, 2005.

VADM Shalders saw action in the first Gulf War as Commanding officer of HMAS Darwin and as a result of his command, received the Conspicuous Service Cross.

He was appointed Commodore Flotillas in 1998 and then to Vice Chief of the Defence Force in 2002. VADM Shalders was awarded the AO in the Australia Day Awards list in 2003.

Other senior appointments and promotions announced last week were:

• RADM Moffitt AM to assume duty as Deputy Chief of Joint Operations.
• CDRE Thomas AM CSC promoted to RADM and posted as Maritime Commander – Australia.
• CDRE Lockwood DSC CSC will assume duty as Commodore Flotillas.
• CAPT Leschen promoted to CDRE and posted as Deputy Maritime Commander and Chief of Staff.
• CDRE Tripovich AM CSC promoted to RADM and posted as Head of Capability and Systems.
• CDRE Coates AM will assume duty as Director General of Navy Personnel and Training.
• CAPT Cawley promoted to CDRE.
• CAPT Cullen promoted to CDRE and will assume duty as Director Coalition Planning Group US Central Command, Tampa, Florida.
• CAPT Walker is promoted to CDRE and will assume duty as Director General Health Policy and Plans.

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