Divisional Officers HMAS Creswell
Bass Division
Lieutenant Stephen Delo, RAN
LEUT Delo was born in Bridgnorth in UK on 13 January 1962 and completed school at Bridgnorth Grammar in 1978. After serving as an industrial apprentice he joined the Royal Navy in Plymouth in 1979 and went on to study Radar and combat systems operations in Portsmouth before his first unit in 1981.
LEUT Delo was posted to HMS Danae, HMS Broadsword, HMS Brazen, HMS Active, HMS Richmond and HMS Daring in his sea going career. After leaving each unit he was promoted through the ranks and taught tactics, training systems and combat system management to all ranks and rates of personnel.
Operational service included passive sonar anti submarine tracking in the cold war period as part of wider intelligence gathering. Between 1985 and 1990 he conducted four tours of the gulf of Oman and conducted boarding and anti piracy operations ashore and afloat. In 1985 he was involved in the evacuation of Beirut and repatriation of English citizens. Between 1990 and 1994 LEUT Delo worked with American Drug enforcement agencies in the Caribbean, seeking out and apprehending drug and people smugglers using radar, SF, intelligence and fast boat insertions.
In 2000 he was promoted WO1 and given the task of creating a new manpower management regime for the Royal Navy. This meant setting up and managing 12,000 personnel afloat and 25 units. LEUT Delo created a real time data system using civilian companies which could be used to hold and manage personnel requirements through a personnel manager on each ship. Personnel could move between units, training courses and other operations based on their own choices. This was established throughout Gulf war two and a series of social issues within the UK and this resulted in the award of the MBE for Leadership by the Her Majesty the Queen in 2004.
In 2003 he was posted to the Royal Naval Leadership academy and was instrumental in developing leadership prior to and beyond the promotional course as part of a through life development process for all NCO’s and Officers after submission of a paper in 2002. In 2004 he conducted Exercise Long Look and taught the Chief Petty Officers Leadership Development Programme at HMAS Creswell for four months. In 2005 he was selected to become the first Executive Warrant Officer on the new Type 45 AAW destroyer and set up training and manpower regimes to suit flexible manning and rotational crew systems. This resulted in the award of the Meritorious Service Medal. Over the course of his sea going career he worked in approximately 250 exercises with other nations and has been to some 120 countries to date as part of his travels.
LEUT Delo has a life long interest in through life and leadership development and has sat on the UK board of training and development as part of the Institute for Leadership and Personnel Development. He is member of several key personal training organisations and has close links with leadership development organisations across defence.
LEUT Delo has recently arrived from the Australian Defence Force Academy where he was Officer Commanding 2A Squadron, a 160 strong body of men and women undergoing their military and academic studies. A Tri Service posting, he managed Army and RAAF officers and saw this as a career highlight and saw him travel to India and all over Australia.
LEUT Delo is married to Jenny and they have a 23 year old Daughter and a 5 year old son. He enjoys swimming, driving, and watching rugby these days but has played at national level in the past. He is currently working on a book on leadership and confidence development while also studying for a post graduate certificate in Vocational Education.
Cook Division
Lieutenant Daniel Hodgkinson, RAN
Lieutenant Daniel Hodgkinson, RAN was born and raised in Wollongong, NSW and completed his schooling at Oak Flats High School in 1996.
LEUT Hodgkinson joined the RAN as an Electronic Technician in 1996 specialising in missile radar systems. He enjoyed a two year posting in HMAS Hobart (II) prior to transferring category to Aircraft Technician Avionics in 2000. LEUT Hodgkinson spent five years maintaining aircraft at 723 Squadron and commenced part time degree studies at the University of Wollongong.
Upon transfer to Officer in 2005 LEUT Hodgkinson undertook fulltime study in Mechanical Engineering completing his degree in 2008. He completed the Marine Engineering Application Course and Junior Officer Leadership Course before proceeding to sea in HMAS Kanimbla mid 2009. Career highlights to date include his tenure in HMAS Hobart (II) as the missile radar maintainer, deploying in HMAS Kanimbla on humanitarian relief for OPERATION PADANG ASSIST, and achieving the Marine Engineer Certificate of Competence in 2010.
LEUT Hodgkinson is supported by his wife Mandy and 2 year old son Jett. His family resides on a small farm near Wollongong where they enjoy the great outdoors. Interests also include camping, motorbike riding and diving.
Professional goals of LEUT Hodgkinson include; a Deputy Engineer position in an Anzac Class ship, completion of a Masters in Systems Engineering, and an Engineer Officers position in one of the new Canberra Class ships.
LEUT Hodgkinson posted to HMAS Creswell in January 2011 as the Cook Divisional Officer and NEOC 44 will be his first Division. He is looking forward to the opportunity to assist in training the future leaders of the Navy and the challenges that this will present.
Jervis Division
Lieutenant Matthew Cooke, RAN
Lieutenant Matthew Cooke was born on the pacific island of Savaii, Samoa, to two Victorian teachers volunteering abroad, and returned to Victoria as an infant to be raised near Paynesville on the Gippsland Lakes. He completed his Victorian Certificate of Education at the Gippsland Grammar School, Sale in 1999.
Initially joining the Royal Australian Air Force in January 2000 to be a Navigator, Lieutenant Cooke commenced studies for a Bachelor of Science Degree at the Australian Defence Force Academy. After almost two years at the academy he completed a service transfer to the Royal Australian Navy, and went on to graduate with his degree as a Midshipman in December 2002.
Midshipman Cooke returned to Gippsland to commence flying training at the School of Air Navigation, RAAF Base East Sale, in 2003, and graduated from 47 Observers Course in August 2004. As a Sub-Lieutenant, Matt then relocated to HMAS Albatross and conducted Observer Basic Rotary Course, flying Squirrel helicopters at 723 Squadron. He then deployed to South East Asia for four months in early 2005 with a Squirrel flight embarked in HMAS Warramunga.
In February 2006 Lieutenant Cooke commenced Operational Flying Training at 816 Squadron, and qualified as a Seahawk helicopter Tactical Coordinator in mid 2007. Ensuing flying postings saw him embark with flights on HMA Ships Newcastle, Stuart, Sydney, and Parramatta, and total just over 650 flying hours in Seahawk helicopters. In 2008 Lieutenant Cooke deployed to the North Arabian Gulf with Stuart, where he employed the Seahawk as a surveillance aircraft to assist with the protection of Iraqi oil platforms and infrastructure.
Lieutenant Cooke returned to the Middle East in 2010 with Parramatta, where he performed the duties of Flight Operations Officer. In this role he was responsible for planning and executing the availability and employment of his ship’s Seahawk helicopter. The aircraft was used in support of Parramatta’s Anti Terrorism and Counter Piracy operations in the Gulf of Oman and between the coastlines of Somalia and Yemen. This challenging and complex deployment is considered a significant career highlight.
In January 2011 Lieutenant Cooke posted to the Royal Australian Naval College, HMAS Creswell, as the Staff Officer – Officer Initial Training Faculty, prior to taking up his role as the Jervis Divisional Officer from July 2011. While he misses the flying, working with the Navy’s future Officers is a challenging and rewarding experience that he hopes will assist him to further his own capabilities as a Naval Officer. In the future Lieutenant Cooke hopes to return to flying and become a Flight Commander, the officer in charge of a ship’s aviation department.
With no children at this stage, Lieutenant Cooke and wife Angela enjoy an active lifestyle and spending time with their two dogs. Matthew also enjoys most sports, with particular interests in Sailing, Skiing, Australian Rules Football and Basketball. Unfortunately a severe knee injury late in 2010 will keep him off the playing fields for some time.
Phillip Division
LEUT Samuel Andrew, RAN
Lieutenant Sam Andrew joined the Royal Australian Navy in January 2004 as a member of New Entry Officer Course 30. Following completion of NEOC, LEUT Andrew undertook the Junior Warfare Officer’s Application Course with postings to HMA Ships Arunta, Gladstone and MANOORA. During this time he deployed to Hawaii, Russia, throughout SE Asia and the SW Pacific and participated in OPERATION ASTUTE in East Timor in 2006.
Following award of his Bridge Warfare Certificate LEUT Andrew joined patrol boat crew Assail Five in Darwin as the Boarding Officer. Undertaking patrols in support of border protection he led numerous boardings of suspected illegal entry and fishing vessels and deployed to PNG, Micronesia and Palau.
In 2008 LEUT Andrew joined the Army’s Special Operations Command as the Maritime Operations Staff Officer. During his tenure with SOCOMD LEUT Andrew attempted the Special Air Service Regiment selection course and qualified as a Special Operations planner. In 2010 he deployed for 6 months as a Battle Captain within the Special Operations Task Group operating out of Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan.
In July 2011 LEUT Andrew joined HMAS Creswell and will be the Phillip Divisional Officer for NEOC 45.
Outside of work LEUT Andrew’s interests include playing basketball and following AFL and Rugby. He is looking forward to life at HMAS Creswell and enjoying Jervis Bay and its surrounds.
Flinders Division
LEUT Aaron Norley, RAN
Lieutenant Aaron Norley was raised in Ferntree Gully, Victoria and enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy in February 2002 as a Combat Systems Operator.
On completion of category training LEUT Norley deployed to the Middle East Area of Operations for Operation Falconer and later Operation Catalyst. Upon returning from the Middle East, LEUT Norley joined HMAS Ballarat as part of the commissioning crew. He remained in Ballarat for three and a half years and was promoted to Leading Seaman in January 2006. During this time he participated in several national and multi-national exercises and participated in Operations RELEX II, RESOLUTE and CATALYST.
In July 2007 LEUT Norley was commissioned as a Midshipman and attended the Royal Australian Naval College as part of New Entry Officer Course 37. During his Junior Warfare Application Course LEUT Norley was posted to HMA Ships Darwin, Larrakia, Albany, Anzac and Arunta and was awarded his Bridge Warfare Certificate in September 2010.
In January 2011 LEUT Norley joined HMAS Sirius, where he remained until joining the Royal Australian Naval College as the Flinders Divisional Officer in January 2012. NEOC 46 will be his first course as a Divisonal Officer.
LEUT Norley is 32 years old lives in Jervis Bay with his de-facto partner, Leah, and their two year old daughter Alyssa. His interests include following AFL and V8 Supercars, Basketball and reading.
