Commanding Officer HMAS Cerberus
Captain Sheldon Williams, RAN
Captain Sheldon Williams, RAN was born in Maclean, NSW in 1961 and he joined the Royal Australian Naval College in 1977. He graduated in 1981 and is a Supply Officer by specialisation.
His initial sea-going postings included training on HMA Ships Melbourne, Torrens and Stalwart. A highlight of this period was Torrens' tasking of Escort ship to HMY Brittania during the Royal Visit in 1981. Later sea postings have included HMAS Darwin, as Deputy Supply Officer of the Commissioning Crew and Supply Officer of HMAS Sydney, for deployment to the Gallipoli 75th Anniversary, a World Circumnavigation in 1990 and operations against Iraq in the First Gulf War.
His early shore appointments included staff appointments to the Naval Officer Commanding West Australia (playing Inter-Service Rugby and sailing around the southern WA coast) and OIC of the Supply Operations Assistance Program (SOAP) at NSC Zetland. In 1988 he was posted as the Deputy Squadron Supply Officer at HMAS Platypus, then base for RAN submarine operations. He was also selected for the Navy Inter-Service Ski Team in 1989.
As the Integrated Logistic Support Manager Navy Aviation Projects, he managed Acceptance into Naval Service of the logistics aspects for the Seahawk helicopter, coordinated project work for the Sea King life of type extension, later Seahawk upgrades and the proposed ANZAC Ship helicopter. In 1994 he took up the US Navy exchange position in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where he headed the Platform Management Branch for USN non-combatant ships. Returning to Canberra to the Support Command, he became Manager Codification, Cataloguing and Allowances in 1997, which was followed by a staff posting as Deputy Director Logistics in Sydney in 1999. This position involved coordinating the RAN's engineering rectification program following the Westralia tragedy. He was also the lead military member in a series of reviews restructuring in-service support in the RAN, leading to the creation of the Maritime Systems Division.
In December 2000 CMDR Williams was posted to Maritime Command as the Commander, Logistic Plans (N43). During his time he was involved in planning for Exercises TANDEM THRUST 01, STARDEX 01, RIMPAC 02 and Operations RELEX and LIPPER. He deployed as Deputy Logistics Commander for the Combined US and Australian forces during TANDEM THRUST 01 and was the Task Force Logistician for the MV Tampa operation and Op RELEX.
In 2002 CMDR Williams deployed for Operation SLIPPER, commanding logistic operations for the RAN throughout the Middle East and was awarded a Commendation for Distinguished Service for his actions. He returned to ADFHQ Strategic Command as the Joint Logistics Planner for ADF operations, where he was closely involved in the planning for OP BASTLLE / FALCONER. CAPT Williams deployed again to the Middle East in April 2003 as the HQ Principal Logisctician (J1/J4) for Op FALCONER and later the JTF during Op CATALYST. Returning to Australia in October he re-joined Strategic operations as the Director of Joint Logistics and Administration. In 2007 he was the Chief of Staff to the Chief of Defence Force and on 26 January 2008 he took command as Commanding Officer HMAS Cerberus.
In the course of his academic studies CAPT Williams has received a Bachelor of Arts, Graduate awards in Applied Science, Management and Resource Management and a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies from Deakin University.
Captain Williams' interests include most sports, reading and jogging and he has been a volunteer firefighter for 14 years.
