Head - Officer Initial Training Faculty HMAS Creswell
Lieutenant Amanda Folkes, RAN
Lieutenant Amanda Folkes, RAN was born and raised in Queensland until completion of her schooling at Brisbane State High School in 1999. In 2000, LEUT Folkes commenced study at the University of Queensland before joining the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in 2001. Her first exposure to the RAN was at HMAS Creswell when she commenced New Entry Officer’s Course (NEOC) 24 as a Midshipman. She found her time at the college to be a rewarding experience and successfully graduated in June of 2001, having enjoyed an extended period of Sea Training Deployment in HMAS Darwin in the Soloman Islands, where she awarded the Australian Service Medal (ASM).
In August 2001, LEUT Folkes was fortunate enough to be posted to the Landing Platform Amphibious HMAS Kanimbla during the ship’s deployment to the Persian Gulf as a part of Operation Slipper for which she was awarded the Australian Active Service Medal (AASM) with the ICAT clasp. LEUT Folkes then attended the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) from 2002 to 2004, where she completed a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English and Management. In 2005 LEUT Folkes achieved her Navigation Watchkeeping Certificate in the Mine Hunter Coastal HMAS Yarra.
LEUT Folkes served in the Guided Missile Frigate HMAS Melbourne as a Phase IV Officer and Officer of the Watch (OOW) from March 2006 until May 2008. LEUT Folkes was the Fleet Workforce Management Officer from May to December 2008, coordinating the short term employment for both Permanent and Reserve Navy Personnel in RAN Ships. This role involved the sourcing of personnel to conduct short periods of sea service, input in to the coordination of personnel movements within the Fleet and liaising with the Fleet Human Resource Manager in matters affecting Navy Personnel.
LEUT Folkes returned to the RANC in 2009, posted as the Divisional Officer to Flinders Division and in June 2010, took over as the Lead Instructor-Leadership for the College. LEUT Folkes was appointed as Head- Officers Initial Training Faculty in January 2012, for the commencement of NEOC 46. LEUT Folkes is currently undertaking her Masters in Business on a part-time basis.
