Commanding Officer HMAS Rankin

Commander Phillip Stanford, RAN

Commander Phillip Stanford, RAN joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1984 and graduated from the Royal Australian Naval College in 1985. He joined the Submarine Squadron in 1987 and after completing submarine training was awarded his "Dolphins" in early 1988.

After serving in the Submarines Oxley and Otama as Torpedo Officer and Navigator respectively he instructed at the Submarine School until undertaking his Submarine Warfare Course in 1991.

CMDR Stanford served in the Submarine Otway as the Operations Officer from early 1992, before joining the Onslow in late 1992 as the Executive Officer. CMDR Stanford remained with Onslow until the end of 1993.

During the period 1994 to 2001 CMDR Stanford transferred to the reserve list before recommencing his naval career when he undertook Collins Class conversion in April 2001, and joining HMAS Waller as the Executive Officer in December 2001. He remained with the Waller until December 2003 when he left to commence the Royal Netherlands Navy Submarine Command Course ("Perisher") in January 2004. On the successful completion of Perisher he posted to the Submarine School as the Deputy Head of Submarine Warfare Training until assuming command of HMAS Dechaineux in February 2005.

CMDR Stanford commanded Dechaineux until she entered full cycle docking in May 2006. He then joined the Submarine Sea Training Group as Deputy Commander Sea Training - Submarines. The highlight of which was serving aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln to represent the RAN during RIMPAC 2006. Later that year, in November CMDR Stanford assumed command of HMAS Rankin.

CMDR Stanford is an active person who is a keen yachtsman and cyclist.