Commander Jonathan Earley

Commander Jonathan Earley, RAN joined the RAN as a Seaman Officer through the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1990. After initial seaman officer training at the Royal Australian Naval College and HMAS Watson in 1993, he was posted to the Fremantle Class patrol boat HMAS Geraldton for initial at-sea training. In 1994 he was selected for a one year exchange with the Royal Canadian Navy and was awarded his Major Fleet Unit bridge watch keeping certificate in HMCS Annapolis in mid-1995. On return to Australia, Earley consolidated his Officer of the Watch training in HMAS Melbourne and following sub-specialist training as an Air Intercept Controller, again served in Melbourne until 1998.

CMDR Earley qualified as a PWO in 1999 having sub-specialised in Above Water Warfare and joined HMAS Anzac later that year as the Gunnery Officer. He saw active service during the ship’s OP DAMASK deployment to the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) in 2001 and was awarded a Maritime Commander’s Commendation for his efforts in developing the procedures used by the ship to undertake non-compliant boarding operations and force protection. After completing his posting to Anzac in early 2002, he was selected to undergo a two-year exchange with the Royal Navy and served as the Anti-Air Warfare Officer and Operations Officer of the Type 42 destroyer, HMS Newcastle. On his return to Australia in mid-2004, CMDR Earley was posted to the Australian Fleet Sea Training Group – Major Fleet Unit, initially as the Fleet Direction Officer and subsequently as the Operations Officer to Commodore Flotillas.

In late 2005, Earley was appointed as Executive Officer of the Anzac Class frigate, HMAS Ballarat. During his tenure he was awarded a Commendation for Distinguished Service in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for his leadership during the ship’s work-up and subsequent deployment to OP SLIPPER where the ship assisted in the protection of Iraq’s oil terminals in the Northern Arabian Gulf. Following his time in Ballarat, CMDR Earley was again posted to Fleet Headquarters and appointed Chief of Staff – Coordination prior to being selected to attend the Australian Command and Staff College (ACSC) in 2008 where he graduated with Masters degrees in Strategy and Policy and Maritime Studies.

Following ACSC, CMDR Earley was appointed Deputy Director Experimentation (Maritime) within Strategic Policy Division before being selected as Staff Officer to the Chief of Navy in mid-2009. He was subsequently appointed to the Chief of Staff role within the Office of Chief of Navy in mid-2010 where he remained until early 2011.

CMDR Earley was briefly appointed Commanding Officer of the Anzac Class frigate HMAS Parramatta on 21 June 2011 prior to assuming command of HMAS Ballarat on 1 Jul 2011.

CMDR Earley is married and has two children. He enjoys running, the outdoors and is an avid long board surfer.