Commanding Officer HMAS Watson
Captain Jay Bannister, RAN
Raised and schooled in central west NSW, Captain Jay Bannister, RAN entered the Royal Australian Naval College in 1984. He has gained specialisations as a Principal Warfare Officer – Surface Warfare (1994) and as a Mine Warfare Clearance Diving Officer (1991).
Following training in a variety of ships he undertook his first qualified sea posting in the Destroyer Escort HMAS Torrens (1987-89). He subsequently served as the Navigating Officer in the patrol boat HMAS Geraldton (1990) based in Western Australia and following MCD training he was the Executive Officer of Clearance Diving Team One (1992-93). Subsequent to qualifying as a PWO, he undertook Warfare Officer postings in the destroyer HMAS Brisbane (1995-96) and the frigate HMAS Sydney (2000-01) which included support to the Sydney Olympics and to the Solomon Island peace process. Captain Bannister was the Commanding Officer of the minehunter HMAS Gascoyne (2002-03) and the amphibious ship HMAS Kanimbla (2006-07) which included operations in East Timor and off Fiji. He assumed command of HMAS Watson in December 2009.
Between operational postings and specialist courses, Captain Bannister undertook varied staff appointments. He served as a seaman training officer at HMAS Watson (1993) and undertook an exchange posting with the Republic of Singapore Navy (1997-98), responsible for sea and shore training in the Mine Countermeasure Squadron. On return, he was the Operational Requirements Manager for the Minehunter Coastal project (1999-2000) within the Defence Material Organisation during early contractor sea trials and delivery of the first two vessels. He has served as a Staff Officer to the Chief of Defence Force (2004-05) and was the Director of Sailors’ Career Management in 2008-09.
Captain Bannister has a Masters of Business Administration from the Macquarie Graduate School of Management. He is married with three children and his leisure interests include mountain bike riding and snow skiing.
