Commanding Officer NHQ Tasmania
Commander Chris Churcher, CSM, RAN
Commander Chris Churcher, CSM, RAN joined the Royal Australian Navy as a Midshipman in 1976 and graduated from HMAS Creswell the following year. He underwent standard seaman officer training, before qualifying in the Destroyer, HMAS Brisbane in 1980. After qualification the then Sub-Lieutenant Churcher was posted to the Destroyer Escort HMAS Torrens for consolidation. In mid-1980 he was selected to be the Executive Officer of the Patrol Boat HMAS Bayonet based in Cairns and the following year moved to become the Navigation Officer of the Patrol Boat HMAS Townsville also based in Cairns. In 1983, the then Lieutenant Churcher took up his first shore posting as the Assistant Base Operations Officer in HMAS Cairns.
Returning south in 1985 Lieutenant Churcher became the Operations Officer at the Mine Warfare and Patrol Boat Base, HMAS Waterhen in Sydney, a position he held until being appointed in command of the Patrol Boat HMAS Geelong in March 1988. Later that year a crew swap took place with HMAS Warrnambool and after a refit in Sydney, Lieutenant Churcher relocated HMAS Warrnambool to HMAS Cerberus to become the Navy Reserve training vessel in Victoria. In 1990 Lieutenant Churcher attended the RAN Staff College at HMAS Penguin in Sydney graduating from the RAN Staff Course at the end of the year when the then Lieutenant Commander Churcher became the Maritime Surveillance Adviser in Apia, Western Samoa.
In 1993 Lieutenant Commander Churcher returned to Australia and assumed command of the Patrol Boat HMAS Geelong for a second time, although this time based in Darwin for fisheries and surveillance patrol work. In 1995 Lieutenant Commander Churcher was promoted to Commander and returned south to take up the position of Provost Marshal-Navy.
In 1999 Commander Churcher moved into Navy’s career management area and became responsible for Navy Commanders postings, a position that he held for three years and where he was awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal. In 2003 Commander Churcher was posted to the United Kingdom as the Chief of Staff to the Head of the Australian Defence Staff London. While in London he deployed on operations to Cyprus as the Australian Liaison Officer to the British Forces during the Israel-Lebanon conflict.
Returning to Australia at the end of 2006 he assumed the position of Chief Staff Officer to the Director General Plans in Headquarters Joint Operations Command. During this posting he was awarded with an Australian Defence Force Silver Commendation for his efforts. At the end of 2010 he returned to career management, taking on the role of career manager for Navy Captains.
Commander Churcher assumed command of Navy Headquarters Tasmania on 12 September 2011.
Commander Churcher is married with two adult daughters. He enjoys most sports, reading, military history, model railways and model aircraft.
