The following is a list of Australians who have attained admiral rank within the

Royal Australian Navy The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the principal naval force of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The professional head of the RAN is Chief of Navy (CN) Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AM, RAN. CN is also jointly responsible to the Minister of ...

(RAN); that is, officers who have held the rank of

admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...

( four-star rank), vice admiral ( three-star rank) or

rear admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...

( two-star rank). The Commonwealth Naval Forces were established on 1 March 1901, following the

Federation of Australia The Federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia (which also governed what is now the Northern Territory), and Western A ...

, as Australia's naval force. The service was reorganised and re-titled as the RAN in 1911. William Creswell, regarded as the "father" of the RAN, was the service's first member to attain flag rank on being promoted to rear admiral in 1911; he later also became the first vice admiral (1922). In 1936, Sir George Hyde became the first officer to be promoted to full admiral, one of only six members of the RAN to attain this rank as of July 2023. A further 29 individuals have reached vice admiral in the RAN and 136 rear admiral. Five officers have additionally retired with the honorary rank of rear admiral.

Admirals

The rank of

is the most senior rank within the RAN to which, excluding ceremonial appointments, any officer has been promoted. Only the five-star rank of admiral of the fleet is higher, but it has been held in only a ceremonial capacity. As there are currently no appointments in the

Australian Defence Force The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is the military organisation responsible for the defence of the Commonwealth of Australia and its national interests. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Forc ...

(ADF) at the five-star level, there is no prospect of a RAN officer achieving the rank in a professional (i.e. non-ceremonial) capacity. With the current structure of the ADF, the rank of admiral is held only when an officer of the RAN is appointed as Chief of the Defence Force. There was, however, an exception to this when Michael Hudson was promoted to admiral on the day of his retirement in 1991 by Prime Minister

Bob Hawke Robert James Lee Hawke (9 December 1929 – 16 May 2019) was an Australian politician and union organiser who served as the 23rd prime minister of Australia from 1983 to 1991, holding office as the leader of the Australian Labor Party (A ...

in recognition of his six years of service as Chief of the Naval Staff. Admirals of the RAN are as follows:

Vice admirals

Vice admiral is the highest permanent rank in the RAN. The rank of vice admiral is always held by the Chief of Navy, though is also held when a RAN officer is appointed as

Vice Chief of the Defence Force The Vice Chief of the Defence Force (VCDF) is the military deputy to the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) of Australia, and acts as the CDF in his absence under standing acting arrangements. Vice Admiral David Johnston, the incumbent VCDF, has ...

, Chief of Joint Operations, Chief of Joint Capabilities or an equivalent position. Vice admirals of the RAN are as follows:

Rear admirals

William Creswell was the first officer, on 1 March 1911, to attain the rank of rear admiral in the RAN. Creswell had started his career in the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...

but, after immigrating to the Australian colonies, joined the South Australian Naval Forces in 1885. He transferred to the

Commonwealth Naval Forces The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the principal naval force of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The professional head of the RAN is Chief of Navy (CN) Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AM, RAN. CN is also jointly responsible to the Minister of ...

following the

in 1901 and became the RAN's first

Director Director may refer to: Literature * ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine * ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker * ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty Music * Director (band), an Irish rock band * ''Di ...

and, subsequently, First Naval Member; he is widely regarded as the "father" of the RAN. Percival McNeil, however, was the first rear admiral of the RAN (on promotion in 1934) to have been born in Australia and Robyn Walker, promoted in 2011, was the first woman to attain flag rank in the RAN. Rear admirals of the RAN are as follows: } (2008–11), Commander Boarder Protection Command (2006–08) , , , - , , , 1916 , , 1993 , , , , Flag Officer Commanding East Australian Area (1972–73), Fourth Naval Member and Chief of Supply (1966–72) , , , - , , , 1923 , , , , , , Flag Officer Naval Support Command (1979–80), Chief of Naval Personnel (1976–79) , , , - , , , , , , , , , Head of Maritime Systems (2015–18) , , , - , , , 1945 , , 2003 , , , , Assistant Chief of Naval Staff - Materiel (1992–95) , , , - , , , 1956 , , , , , , Deputy Chief of Navy (2004–06), Director General Coast Watch (2002–04) , , , - , , , 1903 , , 1980 , , , , Flag Officer-in-Charge East Australia Area (1958–60), Flag Officer Commanding HM Australian Fleet (1956–57), Head of Australian Defence Staff – Washington (1953–55) , , , - , , , 1948 , , , , , , Head of Australian Defence Staff – Washington (1999–02), Support Commander (Navy) (1997–99) , , , - , , , 1967 , , , , , , Deputy Chief of Joint Operations (2019–21), Head of Military Strategic Commitments (2019), Commander Joint Task Force 633 (2018–19) , , , - , , , , , , , , , Commander Maritime Border Command (2020–22), Commander Joint Task Force 633 (2019–20) , , , - , , , 1936 , , 2013 , , , , Naval Support Commander (1991–93), Chief of Naval Personnel (1989–91), Chief Naval Engineer (1988–89), Assistant Chief of Naval Staff - Logistics (1987–88), Chief of Naval Engineering (1987), Head of Australian Defence Staff – Washington (1985–87) , , , - , , , 1934 , , , , , , Flag Officer Naval Support Command (1988–91), Chief of Naval Personnel (1986–88) , , , - , , , 1935 , , 2014 , , , , Director RAN Submarine Project (1986–93) , , , - , style="background:#d0e5f5;", * , , , , , , , , Head Navy Capability (2022–) , , , - , , , 1938 , , , , , , Assistant Chief of Naval Staff - Materiel (1989–93) , , , - , , , , , , , , , Commander Joint Task Force 633 (2014–16), Head Military Strategic Commitments (2013–14), Deputy Chief of Navy (2011–13), Head Navy People and Reputation (2009–11) , , , - , , , 1959 , , , , , , Head Cadet, Reserve & Employer Support Division (2016–18) , , , - , , , 1931 , , 2011 , , , , Chief of Naval Operational Requirements and Plans (1984–87) , , , - , , , 1948 , , , , , , Head Systems Acquisitions (Maritime & Ground) (1999–01) , , , - , , , , , , , , , Commander Maritime Border Command (2016–19) , , , - , , , , , , , , , Head Navy Engineering (2016–21) , , , - , , , 1923 , , 1994 , , , , Director General Naval Health Services (1976–81) , , , - , , , 1902 , , 1987 , , , , Director of Naval Medical Services (1955–64) , , , - , , , 1926 , , 2016 , , , , Chief of Naval Operational Requirements and Plans (1979–81) , , , - , , , 1949 , , , , , , Maritime Commander Australia (1999–00), Head Joint Education and Training (1998–99), Commander Naval Training (1997–98) , , , - , style="background:#d0e5f5;", * , , , , , , , , , , , - , , , 1926 , , 2017 , , , , Chief of Naval Technical Services (1980–83), Chief of the Service Laboratories and Trials Division (1979–80) , , , - , style="background:#d0e5f5;", * , , , , , , , , Head Patrol Boats & Specialist Ships (2022–), Head Maritime Systems (2018–22) , , , - , , , 1962 , , , , , , Head of Maritime Systems (2010–14) , , , - , , , 1933 , , 1990 , , , , Flag Officer, Naval Support Command (1984–88), Chief of Naval Personnel (1982–84) , , , - , , , 1922 , , 2014 , , , , Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (1978–79), Flag Officer Commanding the Australian Fleet (1977–78), Flag Officer Commanding East Australian Area (1975–77) , , , - , , , 1919 , , 2012 , , , , Chief of Naval Personnel (1974–76), Chief of Naval Supply and Works (1973–74) , , , - , , , 1883 , , 1951 , , , , Third Naval Member and Chief of Naval Construction (1940–43), Director of Engineering (Naval) (1931–40) , , , - , , , 1910 , , 1987 , , , , Second Naval Member and Chief of Naval Personnel (1965–67) , , , - , , , 1955 , , , , , , Head of the Future Submarine Program (2009–14), Deputy Chief of Joint Operations (2005–08), Maritime Commander Australia (2004–05), Deputy Chief of Navy (2002–04) , , , - , style="background:#a3d9aa;", + , , 1893 , , 1979 , , , , Flag Officer in Command New South Wales (1947–50), Naval Officer-in-Charge Sydney (1944–47) , , , - , , , 1911 , , 1983 , , , , Flag Officer-in-Charge East Australia Area (1966–68), Flag Officer Commanding HM Australian Fleet (1965–66), Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (1962–65) , , , - , style="background:#d0e5f5;", * , , , , , , , , Head of Australian Defence Staff – Washington (2023–), Acting Chief of Joint Capabilities (2021–22), Commander Joint Logistics (2019–21) , , , - , , , 1921 , , 1991 , , , , Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (1975–78) , , , - , , , 1917 , , 1995 , , , , Third Naval Member and Chief of Naval Technical Services (1972–74), Project Director of the Light Destroyer Project (1971–72) , , , - , style="background:#a3d9aa;", + , , 1906 , , 1974 , , , , Flag Officer-in-Charge East Australia Area (1960–62) , , , - , , , 1946 , , , , , , Deputy Chief of Navy (1997–99), Commander Australian Theatre (1995–97), Maritime Commander Australia (1995–97), Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Personnel) (1993–95) , , , - , , , 1903 , , 1975 , , , , Fourth Naval Member and Chief of Supply (1958–63) , , , - , , , , , , , , , Summary Discipline Implementation Team (2018–2022) , , , - , style="background:#d0e5f5;", * , , , , , , , , Commander Defence COVID-19 Taskforce (2021–), Commander Joint Task Force 629 (2020–21) , , , - , , , 1887 , , 1959 , , , , Flag Officer in Charge New South Wales and Admiral Superintendent – Sydney (1946) , , , - , , , 1895 , , 1955 , , , , Director of Naval Medical Services (1946–55) , , , - , , , , , , , , , Head Maritime Systems (2012–16) , , , - , , , 1942 , , , , , , Head Systems Acquisition (Maritime and Ground Systems) (1997–99), Chief Naval Engineer and Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Materiel) (1994–97) , , , - , , , 1912 , , 1997 , , , , Third Naval Member and Chief of Naval Technical Services (1967–69) , , , - , , , , , , , , , Head Navy Capability (2017–22), Head Force Integration (2014–17) , , , - , , , 1932 , , , , , , Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (1985–89) , , , - , style="background:#a3d9aa;", + , , 1909 , , 1978 , , , , Judge Advocate General of the Naval Forces (1964–77) , , , - , , , 1922 , , 2017 , , , , Chief of Naval Technical Services (1974–79) , , , - , , , , , , , , , Head Navy Engineering (2021–23) , , , - , , , 1930 , , 2022 , , , , Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (1983–84), Chief of Joint Operations (1982–83) , , , - , , , 1925 , , 2020 , , , , Flag Officer Naval Support Command (1980–82), Head of Australian Defence Staff – London (1976–79) , , , - , , , 1956 , , , , , , Head Maritime Systems (2007–09) , , , - , , , , , , , , , Commander Joint Task Force 633 (2020–21), Head of Information Communications Technology Operations (2017–20) , , , - , , , 1928 , , 2012 , , , , Chief of Naval Materiel (1979–85) , , , - , , , 1937 , , , , , , Judge Advocate General of the Australian Defence Force (1992–96) , , , - , style="background:#d0e5f5;", * , , , , , , , , Judge Advocate General of the Australian Defence Force (2021–) , , , - , , , 1952 , , , , , , Head Maritime Systems (2003–07) , , , - , , , 1966 , , , , , , General Manager Submarines (2017–20), Head Future Submarine Program (2013–17) , , , - , , , 1952 , , , , , , Head Maritime Systems (2000–03), Support Commander Australia – Navy (1999–00) , , , - , style="background:#d0e5f5;", * , , , , , , , , Commander Joint Health Command and Surgeon General of the Australian Defence Force (2019–) , , , - , , , 1950 , , 2012 , , , , Surgeon General Defence Health Reserves (2008), Surgeon General of the Australian Defence Force (2005–08) , , , - , style="background:#a3d9aa;", + , , 1899 , , 1991 , , , , , - , , , 1934 , , , , , , Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (1989), Maritime Commander Australia (1988–89), Flag Officer Commanding HM Australian Fleet (1987–88), Commandant of the Australian Defence Force Academy (1984–86) , , , - , , , 1954 , , , , , , Judge Advocate General of the Australian Defence Force (2014–21) , , , - , style="background:#d0e5f5;", * , , , , , , , , Commander Australian Fleet (2022–), Deputy Chief of Navy (2020–22) , , , - , , , 1950 , , , , , , Maritime Commander Australia (2000–02), Deputy Chief of Navy (1999–00) , , , - , style="background:#d0e5f5;", * , , , , , , , , Deputy Director Maritime Operations,

United States Pacific Fleet The United States Pacific Fleet (USPACFLT) is a theater-level component command of the United States Navy, located in the Pacific Ocean. It provides naval forces to the Indo-Pacific Command. Fleet headquarters is at Joint Base Pearl Harbor� ...

(2022–) , , , - , , , , , , , , , Head Navy Future Infrastructure (2020–22) , , , - , , , 1927 , , 2015 , , , , Flag Officer Commanding HM Australian Fleet (1981–82), Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (1979–81) , , , - , , , 1876 , , 1957 , , , , Captain Superintendent of Naval Establishments and Captain-in-Charge, New South Wales (1929–31) , , , - , , , 1941 , , , , , , Assistant Chief of the Defence Force (Personnel) (1992–93), Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Personnel) (1991–92) , , , - , , , 1926 , , , , , , Controller of Establishments (1981–83), Director-General of the Natural Disasters Organisation (1978–81) , , , - , , , 1959 , , , , , , Commander Joint Logistics (2012–16) , , , - , , , 1956 , , , , , , Deputy Chief of Navy (2008–11), Commander Joint Education, Training and Warfare (2008), Commander Australian Defence College (2007–08), Commander Australian Flett (2007), Maritime Commander Australia (2005–07) , , , - , , , 1857 , , 1919 , , , , Director of Auxiliary Forces (1911–19) , , , - , , , 1927 , , 2012 , , , , Director-General Naval Health Services (1981–87) , , , - , , , 1905 , , 1974 , , , , Third Naval Member and Chief of Construction (1959–63) , , , - , , , , , , , , , Head Navy Engineering (2011–16) , , , - , , , 1961 , , , , , , Deputy Chief of Navy (2013–16) , , , - , , , 1930 , , 2020 , , , , Head of Australian Defence Staff – London (1984–86), Flag Officer Naval Support Command (1982–84) , , , - , , , 1959 , , , , , , Commander Joint Health and Surgeon General of the Australian Defence Force (2011–15) , , , - , , , 1918 , , 1983 , , , , Flag Officer Commanding HM Australian Fleet (1974–75), Commander ANZUK (1971–73), Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (1970–71), Flag Officer-in-Charge East Australia Area (1968–70) , , , - , , , 1934 , , , , , , Chief of Naval Material (1985–89) , , , - , , , 1926 , , 1997 , , , , Chief of Naval Personnel (1979–80), Chief of Naval Operational Requirements and Plans (1977–79) , , , - , , , 1892 , , 1968 , , , , Third Naval Member and Chief of Construction (1948–53), Engineer Manager of Garden Island Dockyard (1945–48) , , , - , style="background:#d0e5f5;", * , , , , , , , , Head of the Afghanistan Inquiry Response Task Force (2021–), Head Reserve and Youth Division and Commander Australian Defence Force Cadets (2019–21), Head People Capability (2015–19) , , , - , , , 1930 , , 2006 , , , , Flag Officer Commanding HM Australian Fleet (1983–85), Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (1982–83), Chief of Naval Operational Requirements and Plans (1981–82) , ,

Notes

References

External links

Admirals of the RAN
*
RAN Admirals
www.navy.gov.au {{RAN Leadership *

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...