Head of Navy Capability
Rear Admiral Allan du Toit, AM, RAN
Rear Admiral Allan du Toit, AM, RAN who took up the appointment as Head of Navy Capability on 01 February 2012, was raised and educated in Durban, South Africa. After initial service in the South African Navy, mainly at sea, he moved to Australia in early 1987, where he accepted a commission in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
In addition to extensive service at sea, Rear Admiral du Toit has served in a wide range of single-service and joint appointments ashore, most recently as Deputy Chief of Joint Operations and Commander Border Protection Command. He has also seen extensive operational service in the Middle East, including command of Coalition Task Force 158 in the North Arabian Gulf between September 2007 and March 2008, commanding maritime forces from Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Iraq. He previously served in the Gulf as RAN Task Group Commander between November 2001 and March 2002 as part of Operation Slipper. During that deployment he also became the first non-US Navy officer to command multinational maritime interception operations enforcing UN sanctions against Iraq. In recognition of this operational service, he was appointed a Member in the Military Division of the Order of Australia in the 2004 Australia Day Honours List.
His command appointments include Head Navy People and Reputation, Commander Border Protection Command, Commander Australian Amphibious Task Group, Commander Australian Amphibious and Afloat Support Force Element Group and Commanding Officer of the amphibious ship HMAS Tobruk during peacekeeping operations in Bougainville in 1998.
He is a graduate of the South African Military Academy, SA Naval Staff College, RAN Staff College and the Australian Joint Services Staff College, and has undertaken professional training courses in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and South Africa during his naval career. He holds a Bachelor of Military Science degree from the University of Stellenbosch, a Master of Defence Studies degree from the University of New South Wales and a Graduate Diploma in Strategic Studies.
He is both an accomplished naval historian and avid student of contemporary defence and naval affairs and has written two books on warships and naval history, the first as a 15-year old school boy which was published while he was serving as a midshipman. He regularly contributes to professional naval conferences and journals in both Australia and overseas and he is currently enrolled as a part-time doctoral student at the University College, Australian Defence Force Academy.
His interests are wide ranging and he is a passionate rugby union and cricket supporter who is proud to call Australia home.
