Commanding Officer Armidale Class Patrol Boat Crew Aware Three
Lieutenant Commander Rod Newbold, RAN
Lieutenant Commander Rod Newbold, RAN joined the Royal Australian Navy as a MIDN in 1981 and commenced Seaman Officer training at HMAS Creswell and in HMA Ships Jervis Bay, Tobruk, Vampire and Supply. After gaining his Bridge Watchkeeping Certificates in HMA Ships Tarakan and Yarra, he then joined HMAS Stuart as an Officer of the Watch in 1985. Between 1986 and 1988 LCDR Newbold was posted as Officer of the watch and later Signals Communications Officer in HMAS Torrens. He then held the position of Staff Officer Advertising in Navy Recruiting from 1988 to 1990 before returning to sea as Signals Communication Officer in HMAS Swan from 1990 to 1991.
In 1991 LCDR Newbold undertook the Principal Warfare Officers course at HMAS Watson before sub-specialist Communications training at HMAS Cerberus. In 1993 he joined HMAS Brisbane as the Signals Communication Officer where he served until transferring to the Naval Reserves in 1994.
LCDR Newbold remained active as a reservist, performing duties as Visiting Ships Liaison Officer and Special Events Coordinator for the Senior Naval Officer South Australia between 1996 and 1999. In 1999 he took up a posting to Headquarters Northern Command as Staff Officer Maritime Planner until 2001, when he returned to the Permanent Naval Forces and performed staff duties with Training Authority - Maritime Warfare.
In 2002 he joined HMAS Kanimbla as the Operations Officer and saw service in Operation RELEX (border protection patrols) and active service in Operation SLIPPER during combat operations in Iraq for which he was awarded a Maritime Commanders Commendation. In 2003 he joined the staff of the Commander Australian Amphibious Task Group as Operations officer until 2006. During this period he saw service in Operations SUMATRA ASSIST providing aid to the Tsunami victims in Aceh and CATALYST as a part of Commander Task Force 58 staff.
In 2006 LCDR Newbold assumed command of Armidale Class Patrol Boat Crew ARDENT ONE and commissioned HMAS Bundaberg. The crew served in HMA Ships Bundaberg, Wollongong and Launceston conducting tasking under Boarder Protection Command in Australia’s North.
In 2008 LCDR Newbold joined the Minor War Vessels Sea Training Unit as the Fleet Navigating Officer (MWV) before taking up the position as Executive Officer and Senior Naval Officer Joint Electronic Warfare Operational Support Unit in Adelaide, South Australia.
LCDR Newbold rejoined Minor War Vessels Sea Training Unit as Fleet Seamanship and Gunnery Officer in early 2011 before he assumed Command of Armidale Class Patrol Boat Crew AWARE THREE in June 2011 serving in HMA Ships Glenelg and Maryborough.
