Head - Officer Initial Training Faculty HMAS Creswell

Lieutenant Commander Ben Esler, RAN

Lieutenant Commander Ben Esler joined the RAN in 1991 through the Australian Defence Force Academy. After graduating from the Academy in 1993, he commenced Seaman Officer training at HMAS Watson, serving in HMA Ships Swan and Ipswich before obtaining a Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate in HMAS Brisbane. After a follow-on posting as a bridge watchkeeper in HMAS Hobart, LCDR Esler proceeded ashore to work as a Duty Fleet Operations Officer, before returning to sea in HMAS Hobart as the assistant Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer. In 1999 Ben commenced Principle Warfare Officer training at HMAS Watson, graduating in mid 2000 as a Surface Warfare sub-specialist. After follow-on training in Communications and Information Systems, LCDR Esler joined HMAS Newcastle as the Signal Communications Officer. Highlights of this posting were Operational service in the Arabian Gulf and South Pacific and several Southeast and Northeast Asian deployments. On leaving HMAS Newcastle, he was posted to the Surface Combatant Force Element Group as the FFG Capability Requirements Manager, and promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. In 2004 Ben was lucky enough to be posted to Penang, Malaysia as a senior planner at the Headquarters of the Five Power Defence Arrangements in Butterworth. On his return to Australia in 2006, LCDR Esler was posted as an instructor at the Principal Warfare Officer Faculty at HMAS Watson, before being selected to Command the Huon Class Minehunter HMAS Hawkesbury. He assumed the role of Head - Officer Initial Training Faculty in January 2010. Ben is married to Belinda and has two fantastic children. He has a keen interest in general aviation, holding a Private Pilot Licence and night rating. He also enjoys fishing and plays golf very badly, after only recently discovering a liking for the sport.