Commodore David Johnston - RIMPAC Deputy Combined Force Maritime Component Commander

Commodore Johnston grew up in Bangkok, Darwin and Adelaide before joining the Royal Australian Naval College in 1978 as a fifteen-year-old Cadet Midshipman. He completed a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of New South Wales before conducting seaman officer specialisation training, including a year on exchange in a Royal Canadian Navy frigate.

As a junior officer he experienced a range of major fleet unit seagoing and shore postings including fighter control, recruiting and Flag Lieutenant duties.  In 1989 Commodore Johnston specialised as a Principle Warfare Officer before posting to sea as the air warfare specialist in HMAS Adelaide(FFG  01). On returning ashore he attended the USN Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, from 1993-1995, attaining a Master of Science in Operations Research.

On return to Australia he filled a command and control specialist staff position in Australian Defence Headquarters, Capability Development Division, before returning to sea in the Adelaide as the second in command. Promoted to Commander in 1999 he returned ashore to joint staff positions including the role of Operations Manager at Sailors’ Career Management. 

Commodore Johnston returned to the Adelaide as the Commanding Officer in June 2002 for eighteen months.   Following sea command, he attended the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies, at the Australian Defence College, to complete a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies.