Vice Admiral Michael Noonan is the current Chief of Navy and assumed the position on 06 July 2018.
The following list chronologically records those who have held the post of Chief of Navy or its preceding positions. Rank and honours are as at the completion of the individual's tours.
Rank and prefix | Name | Postnominal(s) | Service | Term began | Term ended | Time in Appointment | Director, Commonwealth Naval Forces |
Rear Admiral Sir | William Rooke|Creswell}} | country=AUS|KCMG,|KBE}} | CNF | {{dts|25 February 1904}} | {{dts|28 February 1911}} | {{ayd|25 Feb 1904|28 Feb 1911}} |
First Naval Member, Australian Commonwealth Naval Board |
Rear Admiral Sir | William Rooke|Creswell}} | country=AUS|KCMG,|KBE}} | RAN | {{dts|1 March 1911}} | {{dts|9 June 1919}} | {{ayd|1 Mar 1911|9 Jun 1919}} |
Rear Admiral Sir | Percy|Grant|Percy Grant (admiral)}} | country=AUS|KCVO,|CB}} | RN | {{dts|10 June 1919}} | {{dts|14 February 1921}} | {{ayd|10 Jun 1919|14 Feb 1921}} |
Vice Admiral Sir | Allan|Everett|Allan Everett (admiral)}} | country=AUS|KCMG,|KCVO,|CB}} | RN | {{dts|24 November 1921}} | {{dts|29 August 1923}} | {{ayd|24 Nov 1921|29 Aug 1923}} |
Rear Admiral | Percival|Hall-Thompson}} | country=AUS|CB,|CMG}} | RN | {{dts|25 February 1924}} | {{dts|28 June 1926}} | {{ayd|25 Feb 1924|28 Jun 1926}} |
Rear Admiral | William|Napier|William Napier (Royal Navy officer)}} | country=AUS|CB,|CMG,|DSO}} | RN | {{dts|29 June 1926}} | {{dts|11 June 1929}} | {{ayd|29 Jun 1926|11 Jun 1929}} |
Vice Admiral Sir | William Munro|Kerr}} | country=AUS|KBE,|CB}} | RN | {{dts|21 October 1929}} | {{dts|19 October 1931}} | {{ayd|21 Oct 1929|19 Oct 1931}} |
Admiral Sir | George|Hyde|George Hyde (admiral)}} | country=AUS|KCB,|CVO,|CBE}} | RN/RAN | {{dts|20 October 1931}} | {{dts|28 July 1937}} | {{ayd|20 Oct 1931|28 Jul 1937}} |
Admiral Sir | Ragnar|Colvin}} | country=AUS|KBE,|CB}} | RN | {{dts|1 November 1937}} | {{dts|3 March 1941}} | {{ayd|1 Nov 1937|3 Mar 1941}} |
Admiral Sir | Guy|Royle}} | country=AUS|KCB,|CMG,|DSO}} | RN | {{dts|18 July 1941}} | {{dts|28 June 1945}} | {{ayd|18 Jul 1941|28 Jun 1945}} |
Admiral Sir | Louis Keppel|Hamilton}} | country=AUS|KCB,|DSO}} | RN | {{dts|29 June 1945}} | {{dts|23 February 1948}} | {{ayd|29 Jun 1945|23 Feb 1948}} |
Vice Admiral Sir | John Augustine|Collins}} | country=AUS|KBE,|CB}} | RAN | {{dts|24 February 1948}} | {{dts|23 February 1955}} | {{ayd|24 Feb 1948|23 Feb 1955}} |
Vice Admiral Sir | Roy|Dowling}} | country=AUS|KBE,|CB,|DSO}} | RAN | {{dts|24 February 1955}} | {{dts|23 February 1959}} | {{ayd|23 Feb 1955|23 Feb 1959}} |
Vice Admiral Sir | Henry|Burrell|Henry Burrell (admiral)}} | country=AUS|KBE,|CB}} | RAN | {{dts|24 February 1959}} | {{dts|23 February 1962}} | {{ayd|24 Feb 1959|23 Feb 1962}} |
Vice Admiral Sir | Hastings|Harrington}} | country=AUS|KBE,|CB,|DSO}} | RAN | {{dts|24 February 1962}} | {{dts|23 February 1965}} | {{ayd|24 Feb 1962|23 Feb 1965}} |
Vice Admiral Sir | Alan|McNicoll}} | country=AUS|KBE,|CB,|GM}} | RAN | {{dts|24 February 1965}} | {{dts|2 April 1968}} | {{ayd|24 Feb 1965|2 Apr 1968}} |
Vice Admiral Sir | Victor|Smith}} | country=AUS|KBE,|CB,|DSCuk}} | RAN | {{dts|3 April 1968}} | {{dts|22 November 1970}} | {{ayd|3 Apr 1968|22 Nov 1970}} |
Vice Admiral Sir | Richard|Peek|Richard Peek (admiral)}} | country=AUS|KBE,|CB,|DSCuk}} | RAN | {{dts|23 November 1970}} | {{dts|22 November 1973}} | {{ayd|23 Nov 1970|22 Nov 1973}} |
Vice Admiral Sir | David|Stevenson|David Stevenson (admiral)}} | country=AUS|AC,|KBE}} | RAN | {{dts|23 November 1973}} | {{dts|22 November 1976}} | {{ayd|23 Nov 1973|22 Nov 1976}} |
Chief of the Naval Staff |
Vice Admiral Sir | Anthony|Synnot}} | country=AUS|KBE,|AO}} | RAN | {{dts|23 November 1976}} | {{dts|20 April 1979}} | {{ayd|23 Nov 1976|20 Apr 1979}} |
Vice Admiral Sir | James|Willis|James Willis (admiral)}} | country=AUS|KBE,|AO}} | RAN | {{dts|21 April 1979}} | {{dts|20 April 1982}} | {{ayd|21 Apr 1979|20 Apr 1982}} |
Vice Admiral | David|Leach|David Leach (admiral)}} | country=AUS|AC,|CBE,|LVO}} | RAN | {{dts|21 April 1982}} | {{dts|20 April 1985}} | {{ayd|21 Apr 1982|20 Apr 1985}} |
Admiral[1] | Michael|Hudson|Michael Hudson (admiral)}} | country=AUS|AC}} | RAN | {{dts|21 April 1985}} | {{dts|8 March 1991}} | {{ayd|21 Apr 1985|8 Mar 1991}} |
Vice Admiral | Ian|MacDougall}} | country=AUS|AC}} | RAN | {{dts|9 March 1991}} | {{dts|9 March 1994}} | {{ayd|9 Mar 1991|9 Mar 1994}} |
Vice Admiral | Rodney|Taylor}} | country=AUS|AO}} | RAN | {{dts|10 March 1994}} | {{dts|18 February 1997}} | {{ayd|10 Mar 1994|18 Feb 1997}} |
Chief of Navy |
Vice Admiral | Rodney|Taylor}} | country=AUS|AO}} | RAN | {{dts|19 February 1997}} | {{dts|30 June 1997}} | {{ayd|19 Feb 1997|30 Jun 1997}} |
Vice Admiral | Donald|Chalmers}} | country=AUS|AO}} | RAN | {{dts|1 July 1997}} | {{dts|2 July 1999}} | {{ayd|1 Jul 1997|2 Jul 1999}} |
Vice Admiral | David|Shackleton|David Shackleton (admiral)}} | country=AUS|AO}} | RAN | {{dts|3 July 1999}} | {{dts|2 July 2002}} | {{ayd|3 Jul 1999|2 Jul 2002}} |
Vice Admiral | Chris|Ritchie}} | country=AUS|AO}} | RAN | {{dts|3 July 2002}} | {{dts|3 July 2005}} | {{ayd|3 Jul 2002|3 Jul 2005}} |
Vice Admiral | Russ|Shalders}} | country=AUS|AO,|CSC}} | RAN | {{dts|4 July 2005}} | {{dts|3 July 2008}} | {{ayd|4 Jul 2005|3 Jul 2008}} |
Vice Admiral | Russ|Crane}} | country=AUS|AO,|CSM}} | RAN | {{dts|4 July 2008}} | {{dts|7 June 2011}} | {{ayd|4 Jul 2008|7 Jun 2011}} |
Vice Admiral | Ray|Griggs|Ray Griggs (admiral)}} | country=AUS|AO,|CSC}} | RAN | {{dts|7 June 2011}} | {{dts|30 June 2014}} | {{ayd|7 Jun 2011|30 Jun 2014}} |
Vice Admiral | Tim|Barrett|Tim Barrett (admiral)}} | country=AUS|AO,|CSC}} | RAN | {{dts|30 June 2014}} | {{dts|6 July 2018}} | {{ayd|30 June 2014|6 July 2018}} |
Vice Admiral | Michael|Noonan|Michael Noonan (admiral)}} | country=AUS|AO}} | RAN | {{dts|6 July 2018}} | Incumbent | {{ayd|6 July 2018}} |
1. ^Hudson was promoted to vice admiral and appointed Chief of Naval Staff on 21 April 1985. He served in that position as a vice admiral for almost 6 years. On the day of his retirement, 8 March 1991, Prime Minister Bob Hawke promoted Hudson to the rank of admiral to honour his distinguished forty-four years of service to the Navy. Obituary, Naval Historical Review, March 2005, pp.32-33. Australian Naval History on 8 March 1991, Naval Historical Society of Australia.
{{ADF Leadership}}{{Royal Australian Navy}}{{Chief of the navy by country}}