Commanding Officer HMAS Wewak

Lieutenant Robert Smilie, RAN

Lieutenant Robert Smilie, RAN assumed command of HMAS Wewak on 15 December 2008.

Robert Smilie joined the Royal Australian Navy as a MIDN in 1998 from Bendigo in Victoria. He conducted his initial training at the Australian Defence Force Academy and completed a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.

Midshipman Smilie commenced his Seamanship Officers Application Course at HMAS Watson in 2000. During his training, Midshipman Smilie served in HMA Ships Kanimbla, Wollongong, Launceston, Yarra and Hawkesbury. He was promoted to Sub-LEUT in 2002, before he was awarded his Bridge Warfare Certificate in HMAS Newcastle in 2003, where he remained onboard as an Officer of the Watch.

Sub-Lieutenant Smilie conducted a deployment to the Arabian Gulf with Newcastle in 2003. On his return to Australia, Smilie was promoted to LEUT and posted to HMAS Geraldton as the Executive Officer from May 2004 to June 2006.

Lieutenant Smile was posted to the Australian Defence Force Academy as a Divisional Officer in June 2006. In 2007, he was appointed to Officer Commanding Navy Squadron at the Australian Defence Force Academy and was responsible for the supervision and training of the Navy’s future leaders.

In 2008 Lieutenant Smilie was posted to the Fleet Information Systems Security Organisation as the Operations Officer before being selected as Commanding Officer of HMAS Wewak. Lieutenant Smilie completed the Commanding Officer Designate course in 2008 and assumed command of Wewak on 12 December 2008.

Lieutenant Smilie enjoys playing golf, drums, reading and computing. He is married to Hayley and they have two boys, Jayden and Liam.