Commanding Officer HMAS Toowoomba
Commander Andrew Quinn, RAN
Commander Andrew Quinn, RAN grew up in Mackay, Queensland and after finishing school in 1988 he followed two older brothers in joining the Royal Australian Navy and graduated from the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1991 with a BSc (Physics Major).
After initial training in HMA Ships Torrens, Darwin and Ipswich Commander Quinn conducted the Canadian Officer of the Watch Exchange on HMC Ships Sascatchewan before she decommissioned then Kootney where he was awarded his Bridge Watch Keeping certificate in 1994. During this time Kootney conducted the international blockade of Haiti. On return to Australia he served as an Officer of the Watch on HMAS Swan and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1995 before serving as the Air Intercept Controller on HMAS Canberra.
In 1998 Commander Quinn completed Principle Warfare Officers and graduated as a Principle Warfare Officer (Air), before posting to HMAS Sydney as the Gunnery Officer. In the two years posted to Sydney, Commander Quinn was the Operations Officer for the ADF's operations in the Solomon Islands, East Timor and Operation Gold (Sydney Olympics). In 2001 he posted was the Staff Officer Air Warfare at Tactical Development Group, promoted to Lieutenant Commander, then was posted as the Gunnery Officer of HMAS Adelaide in 2002-2003. During this time Adelaide contributed to Operation Slipper and RELEX. In 2003 and 2004 Commander Quinn posted to Capability Development group as the Staff Officer Combat Systems and contributed to the capability requirements for the Air Warfare Destroyer Project.
In 2005 Commander Quinn was in Command of HMAS Bunbury and was awarded the Kelly shield (for most operationally efficient Patrol Boat) and runner up for the NQEA Sword of Excellence (for Engineering Excellence). Whilst still in Command of Bunbury Commander Quinn assumed Command of ATTACK 3 and as the Commanding Officer Commissioned HMAS Bathurst and decommissioned HMAS Bunbury in February 2006.
In 2007 Commander Quinn worked within Head Quarters Joint Operations Command and as Staff Officer to the Head of Military Strategic Commitments before being Promoted to Commander and becoming the ESSM Project Director and Operations Requirements Manager in Major Surface Ships Branch in Defence Material Organisation in 2007-2010. In this posting CMDR Quinn made a significant contribution to the ANZAC ASMD Project as the Operations Requirements Manager. Commander Quinn assumes Command of HMAS Toowoomba 03 December 2010.
Commander Quinn and his wife Nicole have two children, Jackson and Makayla. He enjoys being at home with the family, reading and playing computer games. Far too late in life he is developing an interest in fitness and has a set of neglected golf clubs in the garage.
