Commanding Officer 816 Squadron
Commander Shane Craig, RAN
Commander Shane Craig, RAN was born in Narracoorte South Australia before moving to Morgan on the Murray River for his primary school years. He completed his schooling at Waikerie High School before joining the RAN as an apprentice Airframe and Engine Technician in 1982. After completing his training at HMAS Nirimba he enjoyed his first posting to 723 Squadron in 1984 and subsequent postings to HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Stalwart.
Shane graduated from the Royal Australian Naval College in 1990, having been appointed as the College Captain and awarded the Naval College Medal. He was then posted to the School of Air Navigation at RAAF East Sale. Awarded his wings in 1991, he graduated as Dux of Course, also being recognised with trophies for Leadership qualities, Best Practical Navigator, and the Australian Institute of Navigation prize for maintaining a distinction average whilst on course.
Shane was posted to the Seahawk Introduction and Transition Unit in 1991 and was a member of 816 Squadron’s commissioning crew. He later served on HMA Ships Canberra (II) and Darwin before returning to 816 Squadron as the Operations Officer. His next sea posting was as a member of the HMAS Anzac commissioning crew in 1996. He subsequently enjoyed an exchange posting with the Royal Navy from 1996 to 1999, completing the Helicopter Warfare Instructor course before conducting a Sea King conversion and joining 814 Squadron as the Helicopter Warfare Instructor. During this time, 814 Squadron was embarked in HMS Invincible and completed operational deployments to the Middle East and with NATO forces in the 1999 Kosovo crisis. Whilst serving in HMS Invincible he was awarded the Robert Sandison trophy for contribution to warfare and tactics development.
On return to Australia Lieutenant Craig joined the Aviation Headquarters as Staff Officer Air Warfare and Tactics before returning to 816 Squadron as the Operations Officer. During 2002 and 2003 Lieutenant Commander Craig joined HMA Ships Melbourne and Sydney as the Flight Commander, completing two operational deployments to the Middle East Area of Operations. In 2004 he was appointed as Executive Officer of 816 Squadron. CMDR Craig graduated from the Australian Command and Staff College in 2006 earning a Graduate Certificate in Maritime Studies and Graduate Diploma of Management in Defence Studies. He has since graduated from University of Wollongong with a Masters in Maritime Studies. After completing staff appointments in Navy Headquarters and the Fleet Air Arm Headquarters, Shane assumed command of 816 Squadron on 11 December 2009.
Shane is married to Anne and they have four sons; Tom, Tim, Toby and Tristan. They enjoy the outdoor lifestyle on the south coast of NSW especially waterskiing, wakeboarding and Australian Football.
