Rear Admiral Nigel Smith CSC RAN (Acting)

Rear Admiral Nigel Smith joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1991. He graduated from the Australian Defence Force Academy with a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering.

His sea postings included the guided missile destroyers HMAS Hobart and HMAS Perth. He also posted as the Weapons Engineering Officer of the Anzac frigate HMAS Stuart.

Staffing posts have included Directorate of Navy Weapon Systems, Director Ordnance Safety, Director of the Land Explosive Ordnance Systems Program Office, Director General Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Manufacturing Development, and Director General GWEO Maritime and Maintenance.

Rear Admiral Smith has enjoyed overseas postings including 2 years as the Naval Attaché's staff in Washington DC. He spent 3 years on exchange to the United Kingdom Defence Ordnance Safety Group. During the UK posting, he represented Australia on the steering committee for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Munitions Safety Information and Analysis Centre and the NATO Ammunition Safety Group.

Rear Admiral Smith has a Master of Science in Explosive Ordnance Engineering, a Master of Engineering Science in Project Management and a Master of Business Administration. He completed the Defence and Strategic Studies Course in 2020.

Rear Admiral Smith is married and has 2 adult children. One of his true passions is maintaining and driving an Australian-assembled 1964 MGB. He also enjoys watching football and skiing.