Commanding Officer HMAS Harman
Commander Andrew Schroder, RAN
Commander Andy Schroder, RAN was born and raised in Canberra. He completed his high school education in 1981 before travelling to the United States for twelve months on a working 'exchange'. On return to Canberra he completed an undergraduate degree in Human Movement Education and taught in Canberra for three and a half years until joining the Royal Australian Navy in 1989.
On completion of initial officer training at the Royal Australian Naval College HMAS Creswell, Schroder gained his initial sea experience in the Fremantle Class Patrol Boats HMA Ships Warrnambool and Cessnock and the Destroyer HMAS Perth. An additional highlight of this period was a four month exchange posting to the US Aircraft Carrier USS Nimitz. In 1992 Schroder was promoted Lieutenant and awarded his Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate in the Heavy Landing Ship HMAS Tobruk. This was followed by further experience as Operations Officer in the Replenishment Ship HMAS Westralia. In 1994 LEUT Schroder returned to HMAS Creswell and the Naval College at Jervis Bay as the Sail Training and Jervis Divisional Officer.
In 1995 Schroder was Dux of the RAN Mine Warfare Officer’s Course and later that year joined the Mine Hunter HMAS Rushcutter as Navigator and Operations Officer. In May 1996 Schroder joined Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour as relief XO and Boats Officer. He remained in Young Endeavour for fourteen months before returning to the Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Force Element Group as the Mine Warfare Pilot and Route Survey Officer. Late in 1997, at short notice, LEUT Schroder returned to sea as Assistant PWO in the Destroyer HMAS Brisbane.
Promoted Lieutenant Commander in 1999 Schroder again returned to the Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Group as Staff Officer Plans - Mine Warfare. In 2000 he completed the RAN Staff Course before returning to sea as the XO in the Mine Hunter Nuship Diamantina followed immediately by another posting as XO, to the Mine Hunter HMAS Huon. During this period Schroder completed his Masters Degree in Business Administration and was selected for Sea Command. In June 2003 Schroder joined the Fremantle Class Patrol Boat HMAS Bunbury (II) as Commanding Officer. A successful eighteen month command conducting border protection tasks in the Timor Sea resulted in Schroder’s selection for promotion to Commander in 2006.
A two and a half year representational posting to the Pacific Island nation of Samoa followed. While seconded to the Australian high Commission, Apia Schroder advised the Government of Samoa on the management of its National Surveillance Program with regard to fisheries, customs and immigration matters. In May 2007 CMDR Schroder returned to Canberra and assumed the duties of Director Military Administration – Navy within the Navy Systems Command HQ. In this role he was selected for Command at the Navy Shore Establishment in Canberra, HMAS Harman.
CMDR Schroder assumed the role of Commanding Officer HMAS Harman on 11 December 2009.
In 1999 CMDR Schroder was married to Nikki Culton at Sorrento in Victoria. They live in Canberra and have two children, Damien 8 years and Jessica 5 years old. The Schroder’s own a small rural property at ‘Wombat Flat’ on the Shoalhaven River near by Canberra. Much of their spare time is spent on the land and enjoying the outdoors.
