Commanding Officer HMAS Anzac
Captain Peter Quinn, CSC, RAN
Captain Peter Quinn, CSC, RAN is a Seaman Officer who has specialised in Above Water Warfare. He joined the Royal Australian Naval College as a Midshipman in January 1983 from Mackay, North Queensland. On graduating from Naval College in 1986 he undertook junior seaman officer training in HMA Ships Parramatta, Whyalla and Hobart prior to undertaking an exchange as an Officer of the Watch in the Royal Canadian Navy as a Sub Lieutenant in 1987/88.
On return to Australia he served two years as an Officer of the Watch (OOW) in the frigates Adelaide and Torrens. He undertook Air Intercept Controller (AIC) training in late 1990 and was subsequently posted as the AIC and OOW of the Guided Missile Frigate HMAS Adelaide. After a ship work-up in HMAS Adelaide, he was posted to HMAS Darwin as the AIC and OOW for the Operation DAMASK (III) deployment to the Persian Gulf. During HMAS Darwin’s five months in the Gulf she provided protection to Mine Clearance Vessel operations in the heavily mined waters in the northern Gulf and conducted precision navigation lead-through duties for merchant vessels in the mine swept channels off Kuwait.
Posting from HMAS Darwin in January 1992 Lieutenant Quinn commenced Principal Warfare Officer (PWO) training at the RAN Surface Warfare School, specialising in Above Water Warfare. He graduated from PWO training in early 1993, receiving the prestigious Sydney-Emden Prize and Saint Barbara Association Awards for being Dux of both Phases of the PWO course.
A three-year posting as the commissioning Direction Officer (Above Water Warfare) of the Guided Missile Frigate HMAS Newcastle followed and he served in that ship until January 1996 when he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and posted ashore as the Officer in Charge Maritime Warfare Training Centre. Following this two-year shore posting he joined the Guided Missile Destroyer HMAS Perth as the Direction Officer and Operations Officer from December 1997 until Perth’s decommissioning in September 1999. In September 1999 he was posted at short notice to HQ INTERFET in Dili as a Shift Commander for INTERFET Intelligence during the stabilisation of that country following widespread Militia violence. He served in Dili for three months.
LCDR Quinn joined HMAS Adelaide as the Executive Officer in April 2000. During his tenure as XO, Adelaide conducted major multi-national exercises, a refit and an Operational Work-up. He was promoted to Commander and posted to Training Authority Maritime Warfare (HMAS Watson) as Head of Combat Systems in May 2001. In that role, he managed the Navy’s Combat System Operator, Diving, Mine Warfare and Command Team training.
Commander Quinn assumed command of the Guided Missile Frigate HMAS Sydney in December 2003 and served as her Commanding Officer until May 2006. During his command HMAS Sydney became the first ship to conduct the extensive Guided Missile Frigate Upgrade Program. Commander Quinn was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross for his outstanding achievement as Commanding Officer HMAS Sydney.
Promoted to Captain in June 2006, Captain Quinn served in the Capability Development Group as Director Maritime Combat Development until early 2009. Responsible for sponsorship of major Surface Combatant, Submarine and Maritime Weapons projects Captain Quinn’s highlights during this period included acting as the Director General Maritime Development in the four months leading up to the Government decision to purchase Navy’s new Air Warfare Destroyers and Amphibious ships and contributing to the development of the Defence White Paper in 2008/09.
Captain Quinn assumed command of the Frigate HMAS Anzac on 03 June 2009.
Captain Quinn is married to Rebecca and they live in Greenleigh (about 20km from Canberra) with their two young children Georgia and Harrison, newfoundland dog Athena, cat James and numerous chickens. Captain Quinn’s sports and interests include cycling, building computers, home renovation and military history.
