Chief of Navy (Australia)

Chief of the Royal Australian Navy
Incumbent Russell Crane since 4 July 2008
Style	Vice Admiral
Term length	Three years (renewable)
Inaugural holder	Rear Admiral Sir William Rooke Creswell

Flag of the Chief of Navy

Vice Admiral Russ Shalders, the then Chief of Navy, being greeted by Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd at the 2008 National Anzac Day Service, Australian War Memorial, Canberra.

The Chief of Navy is the most senior appointment in the Royal Australian Navy, responsible to the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) and the Secretary of Defence. The rank associated with the position is Vice Admiral (3-star).

Vice Admiral Russell Crane is the current Chief of Navy and assumed this position in July 2008.

Appointees

Name	Service	Term began	Term ended
Director, Commonwealth Naval Forces
Rear Admiral Sir William Rooke Creswell KCMG, KBE	RAN	25 February 1904	28 February 1911
First Naval Member, Australian Commonwealth Naval Board
Rear Admiral Sir William Rooke Creswell KCMG, KBE	RAN	1 March 1911	9 June 1919
Rear Admiral Sir Percy Grant KCVO, CB	RN	10 June 1919	14 February 1921
Vice Admiral Sir Allen Everett KCMG, KCVO, CB	RN	24 November 1921	29 August 1923
Rear Admiral Percival Hall-Thompson CB, CMG	RN	25 February 1924	28 June 1926
Rear Admiral William Napier CB, CMG, DSO	RN	29 June 1926	11 June 1929
Vice Admiral Sir William Munro Kerr KBE, CB	RN	21 October 1929	19 October 1931
Admiral Sir George Hyde KCB, CVO, CBE	RN	20 October 1931	28 July 1937
Admiral Sir Ragnar Colvin KBE, CB	RN	1 November 1937	3 March 1941
Admiral Sir Guy Royle KCB, CMG, DSO	RN	18 July 1941	28 June 1945
Admiral Sir Louis Hamilton KCB, DSO	RN	29 June 1945	23 February 1948
Vice Admiral Sir John Augustine Collins KBE, CB	RAN	24 February 1948	23 February 1955
Vice Admiral Sir Roy Dowling KBE, CB, DSO	RAN	24 February 1955	23 February 1959
Vice Admiral Sir Henry Burrell KBE, CB	RAN	24 February 1959	23 February 1962
Vice Admiral Sir Hastings Harrington KBE, CB, DSO	RAN	24 February 1962	23 February 1965
Vice Admiral Sir Alan McNicoll KBE, CB, GM	RAN	24 February 1965	2 April 1968
Vice Admiral Sir Victor Smith AC, KBE, CB, DSC	RAN	3 April 1968	22 November 1970
Vice Admiral Sir Richard Peek KBE, CB, DSC	RAN	23 November 1970	22 November 1973
Vice Admiral Sir David Stevenson AC, KBE	RAN	23 November 1973	22 November 1976
Chief of the Naval Staff
Vice Admiral Sir Anthony Synnot KBE, AO	RAN	23 November 1976	20 April 1979
Vice Admiral Sir James Willis KBE, AO	RAN	21 April 1979	20 April 1982
Vice Admiral David Leach AC, CBE, LVO	RAN	21 April 1982	20 April 1985
Vice Admiral Michael Hudson AC	RAN	21 April 1985	8 March 1991
Vice Admiral Ian MacDougall AC	RAN	9 March 1991	9 March 1994
Vice Admiral Rodney Taylor AO	RAN	10 March 1994	18 February 1997
Chief of Navy
Vice Admiral Rodney Taylor AO	RAN	19 February 1997	30 June 1997
Vice Admiral Donald Chalmers AO	RAN	1 July 1997	2 July 1999
Vice Admiral David Shackleton AO	RAN	3 July 1999	2 July 2002
Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie AO	RAN	3 July 2002	3 July 2005
Vice Admiral Russ Shalders AO, CSC	RAN	4 July 2005	3 July 2008
Vice Admiral Russell Crane AO, CSM	RAN	4 July 2008	3 July 2011