Lieutenant Commander Brett Westcott
Lieutenant Commander Brett Westcott RAN originates from Parkes, NSW where he grew up on the family property. Westcott joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1989, and completed a Bachelor of Arts at the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1991.
Following graduation, MIDN Westcott commenced Seaman Officer Training in 1992. Sea postings as a trainee Seaman Officer in HMA Ships Derwent and Whyalla ensued, with then SBLT Westcott achieving his Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate in the patrol boat HMAS Whyalla in June 1994. A posting as Officer of the Watch in the frigate HMAS Canberra followed, before Westcott commenced submarine training in August 1995.
Then LEUT Westcott joined his first submarine, HMAS Otama in November 1995 and qualified as a submariner in May 1996. He remained in Otama until the end of that year before undertaking conversion training for the Collins Class, joining NUSHIP Farncomb in May 1997. Westcott assumed duties as the Navigating Officer in Farncomb in December 1997, and was part of the commissioning crew of that submarine. He remained in Farncomb until December 1998, when he was fortunate enough to be posted ashore for twelve months, serving as a submarine controller in Maritime Headquarters. This coincided with Brett’s marriage to fiancé, Bronwyn.
LEUT Westcott attended the Submarine Warfare Officers Course in 2000, posting to HMAS Collins as Sonar Officer on completion. During this period, Collins deployed to Alaska, Canada and the US West coast – a definite career highlight. Upon Collins’s first decommissioning in 2001, Westcott again joined Farncomb as the Navigating Officer, remaining onboard until Farncomb decommissioned in October 2002. A posting to HMAS Sheean as Operations Officer and promotion to LCDR followed, before Westcott undertook the Submarine Executive Officers course in June 2003.
Westcott served as HMAS Farncomb’s Executive Officer throughout 2004 before re-joining HMAS Sheean as the Executive Officer in November 2004. During Westcott’s two-year tenure as Sheean’s Executive officer, the submarine was awarded the Duke of Gloucester Cup recognising the submarine and its crew as the most operationally proficient unit in the RAN for 2005. It was during this period Westcott’s service as Executive Officer in Sheean was recognised with a Commendation from the then Maritime Commander.
In 2007, Westcott attended the Submarine Command Course “Perisher” in the Netherlands – internationally renowned as the penultimate test for prospective submarine commanding officers. Although unsuccessful in his quest for submarine command, Westcott relished the leadership and tactical challenges of this demanding course and still counts his selection and performance on Perisher as one of the highlights of his career to date.
Upon return from Perisher in mid 2007, Westcott served as Deputy Head of Submarine Warfare Training, where it was a great privilege to train the upcoming generation of submariners. Especially rewarding was the opportunity to instruct both the Submarine Warfare Officer and Submarine Executive Officer courses of 2007 and 2008. It was during this period that Westcott was selected for his command of ARDENT FOUR.
LCDR Westcott is married to Bronwyn and they have two young sons, Callum (2004) and Declan (2005). After several years of stability in Perth, the family is looking forward to life in the tropical paradise of Cairns. Brett’s interests when in port centre around whatever his children are up to. Interested in most water sports, Westcott is also an avid follower rugby union, particularly the Western Force.
