Executive Officer HMAS Creswell

Commander Fiona McNaught, RAN

CMDR Fiona McNaught graduated from the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) with a BA in 1988 and completed Basic Supply Course the following year. As a junior officer, she conducted a variety of postings including HMA Ships Moresby, Kuttabul and Cairns, ADFA, and Recruiting. Upon promotion to Lieutenant Commander in 1998, she spent some time in Director of Naval Officers' Postings prior to exercising Sea Charge in HMAS Kanimbla from October 1998 to mid-2001. She then conducted the Logistic Executive Development Course at the United States Army Logistic Management College, Fort Lee, Virginia prior to posting in 2002 to Headquarters 1st Joint Movements Group as the Staff Officer Grade 2 (SO2) Plans, also performing the role of SO2 Operations during OPERATION FALCONER. She departed this billet in March 2004 to take maternity leave and long service leave, returning to Australian Command and Staff Course in 2005.

Falling pregnant again during staff course, she spent her first year as a Commander on leave, looking after kids, finishing her MBA, and building a house in Bungendore. CMDR McNaught then spent 2007-2008 as Director Navy Ministerials & Coordination in Navy Headquarters, where the highlight was her involvement in historical projects including the Search for HMAS Sydney (II), the Christmas Island remains investigation and the HMAS AE2 Project. She took up her current posting as Executive Officer HMAS Creswell in 2009, where she intends to continue her quest to learn to surf.

CMDR McNaught is married to an Army officer, Simon Bonavita, who is presently the Commanding Officer of the Parachute Training School in Nowra. They have two girls, Jasmine, aged 5, and Anise, aged 3.