Commanding Officer Recruit School
Commander Jim Hillock, CSC, RAN
Commander Jim Hillock, CSC, RAN was born in Alexandra, Victoria in 1972. He joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1989 and went on to graduate as a BSc from the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1991. After conducting his initial Seamanship Officer training he gained his Bridge Watchkeeping qualification in the Fremantle Class Patrol Boat HMAS WOLLONGONG, with his subsequent endorsement in the destroyer HMAS PERTH in 1994. After postings to HMAS HOBART (Officer of the Watch), HMAS BRISBANE (Air Intercept Controller) and HMAS ANZAC (Air Intercept Controller), Lieutenant Hillock commenced Principal Warfare Officer (PWO) Course in 1997, successfully graduating as an Air Warfare specialist the following year.
In 1999 Lieutenant Hillock was posted as Direction Officer, HMAS CANBERRA. After being awarded the Australia Day Medallion for his services in CANBERRA, Hillock was selected for duty as Flag Lieutenant to the Chief of Navy in January 2001. He served on Admiral’s Staff until the following year when he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and posted as Direction Officer, HMAS DARWIN. Lieutenant Commander Hillock’s tenure in DARWIN was curtailed when he was posted as an Operational Relief to HMAS MELBOURNE in the Persian Gulf. He joined MELBOURNE in June 2002, serving as Gunnery Officer and Senior PWO throughout the ship’s deployment in support of United Nations sanctions against Iraq.
Upon his return to Australia Lieutenant Commander Hillock undertook the Australian Command and Staff Course, successfully graduating with a Masters of Management in Defence Studies in December 2003. The following year Lieutenant Commander Hillock was posted to the Solomon Islands as Maritime Component Commander of the Regional Assistance Mission – Solomon Islands. In this capacity he planned and participated in numerous Combined Operations, in conjunction with Air, Land and Police Forces, aimed at returning law and order to the Islands. Following his tenure in the Solomon’s, Lieutenant Commander Hillock assumed duties as Executive Officer, HMAS SYDNEY. He remained in SYDNEY until May 2006, taking the ship through the extended FFG Upgrade Project. For his services in SYDNEY, Lieutenant Commander Hillock received the Conspicuous Service Cross in January 2006.
In June of 2006, Hillock was seconded to the Air Warfare Destroyer Program (AWDPO) in the Defence Material Organisation, as Deputy Director Capability Development – Air Warfare. In this capacity Hillock received acting rank to Commander in January 2007, being confirmed in rank the following year.
Commander Hillock was appointed as the Commanding Officer of Recruit School in July 2008.
