Commanding Officer HMAS Melbourne
Commander Richard Boulton, RAN
Commander Richard Boulton, RAN was born in Melbourne and joined the Royal Australian Naval College as a Midshipman in 1989.
He was awarded his Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate in 1990 after training in HMA Ships Perth (II), Bunbury (II) and Ipswich (II). He subsequently served in guided missile destroyers and frigates between 1991 and 1996 as an Officer of the Watch, Anti Submarine Aircraft Controller and Air Intercept Controller (Fighter Controller) completing multiple Five Power Defence Arrangement exercises (FPDA) and South East Asian deployments. In 1997 he completed the Principal Warfare Officer (PWO) course specialising in Above Water Warfare and then served as Gunnery Officer and Operations Officer in HMAS Brisbane.
In 2000 Commander Boulton commenced an Air Warfare Officer exchange posting with the Royal Navy serving in HMS Gloucester. Prior to return to Australia he had a short posting to the Royal Navy School of Maritime Operations as part of the Air Warfare Directing Staff.
He joined HMAS Perth in 2005 as the Commissioning Executive Officer and during this time deployed to Operation RESOLUTE for border protection duties.
Commander Boulton’s shore appointments have included postings to HMAS Watson as PWO Directing Staff; Capability Systems Division as Staff Officer Air Warfare to Director General Maritime Development; secondment to Strategic Operations Division during Operations BASTILLE and FALCONER (Iraq) as a maritime adviser; Headquarters Joint Operations Command (HQJOC) as an operational planner; and Navy Strategic Command as Deputy Director Surface and Air Warfare.
In 2008 Commander Boulton served in Iraq as Chief Staff Officer to Commander Task Force 158 (Northern Arabian Gulf). In 2009 he became Chief of Staff to Commander Task Force 152 (Arabian Gulf) for the RAN’s inaugural command of this Task Force. Commander Boulton was awarded a Chief of Joint Operations Gold Commendation for his service to Operations CATALYST and SLIPPER in the Middle East.
Commander Boulton graduated from the Australian Command and Staff Course in 2004 and holds a Master of International Studies, Master of Management and Master of Maritime Studies degrees.
Commander Boulton assumed command of HMAS Melbourne on 01 July 2011.
Commander Boulton is married to Natalie, and they have two children, Elise and Ryan. He enjoys fly fishing, camping, travel and reading in his spare time.
