9 June 2025
By conducting thorough fault analysis, coordinating system-level testing and articulating complex problems for stakeholders, Lieutenant Commander Kieran Davis and his team optimised combat system performance in HMAS Toowoomba and resolved legacy issues across the Anzac class.
This work led to Lieutenant Commander Davis receiving a Conspicuous Service Medal in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours, recognising his leadership in resolving integration issues, enhancing radar and combat system performance and delivering lasting improvements across the fleet.
But the journey wasn’t without challenges, as miscommunication between stakeholders, competing priorities and limited resources all posed key hurdles to diagnosing and resolving the issues.
Lieutenant Commander Davis, a weapons electrical engineering officer of nearly 15 years, said the achievement was ultimately a result of teamwork and trust.
“I had a highly effective team and I just tried to empower them, remove barriers and help frame the problems so we could actually solve them,” Lieutenant Commander Davis said.
“It’s about understanding what motivates people, giving clear direction and creating a culture where everyone feels empowered to do their best work.”
'I feel fortunate to have led such a great team – they empowered me to succeed in my role.'
His time in Toowoomba also reinforced the importance of translating technical issues into actionable language for capability managers and support organisations.
The experience also highlighted that, at times, there can be a gap between design intent and how systems are actually operated and maintained by end users.
“It's about bridging the gap between system developers and end users, so that issues with system performance are communicated clearly and the right people can take effective action,” Lieutenant Commander Davis said.
“There can sometimes be a misalignment between how a system is designed or configured, and how operators employ it in line with doctrine or operational requirements.”
He described the award as a humbling recognition of his team’s efforts and the impact of their work.
“I take a lot of pride in what we achieved, but more than anything, I feel fortunate to have led such a great team – they empowered me to succeed in my role,” Lieutenant Commander Davis said.
“Just aspire for roles like this. You only get one shot at the head of department role at sea, so appreciate and embrace it as a true pinnacle of your career.”
