Commanding Officer HMAS Sydney
Captain Peter Leavy, RAN
Captain Peter Leavy, RAN joined the Royal Australian Naval College in 1984 and transferred to the inaugural graduating year of the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1986. After initial Seaman Officer training, he was posted to USS Brewton and HMAS Hobart for Phase 2 training, and later completed Phase 3 training and joining the commissioning ship’s company of HMAS Westralia.
After being awarded his Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate in , Leavy was posted to HMAS Perth where he served as an Officer of the Watch before commencing Principle Warfare Officer (PWO) training in 1993. After graduation, Leavy served as a Warfare Officer in HMAS Swan before completing PWO Phase 2 training in 1995. He was then posted as the Anti Submarine Warfare Officer in the commissioning ship’s company of HMAS Anzac.
In 1998 Leavy assumed duties as the Officer-In-Charge of the RAN Tactical Electronic Warfare Support Section at HMAS Albatross, where he was involved in support to ADF operations in East Timor. Following this posting, he joined HMAS Darwin as the Executive Officer in April 2000, and then in January 2002 he was posted to the Australian Command and Staff Course where he completed a Masters of Management (Defence Studies).
In January 2003, Leavy posted to Navy Headquarters in Canberra as the Deputy Director Future Maritime Warfare, but soon after arriving was seconded as the Chief of Staff to Commander Task Group 633.1 operating in the North Arabian Gulf during Opertaion Falconer (Iraq). CAPT Leavy returned to Navy Headquarters on completion of this secondment and in 2004 was selected to Command HMAS Stuart.
Leavy joined Stuart in May 2005 and remained in Command until December 2006 when the ship was awarded the Gloucester Cup as the most efficient ship in the Fleet. Leavy then returned to Canberra to be posted as the Director Sea Power Centre – Australia, where he was responsible for Navy’s doctrine, history and academic research activities.
In August 2008, Leavy commenced preparation for another deployment to the Middle East as Commander Task Group 158.1, operating from the Khawr Al Amaya Oil Platform in the North Arabian Gulf.
Captain Leavy holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons), Master of Arts (Maritime Policy) and a Master of Management (Defence Studies). He is married to Anna, and they have one daughter, Erin (2001).
Captain Leavy assumed command of HMAS Sydney on 16 April 2009.
