Lieutenant Commander Mal Parsons
Lieutenant Commander Mal Parsons, RAN joined the Royal Australian Navy as a MIDN in 1976. After undertaking his initial training at HMAS Cerberus MIDN Parsons served in HMA Ships Duchess, Stuart, Melbourne, Bribane and Vampire prior to the award of his primary qualification in 1979.
Upon award of his primary qualification, Parsons was promoted to SBLT and posted as the Navigation Officer of the survey ship HMAS Flinders. Postings to the Destroyer Escorts HMAS Swan and Yarra followed with Parsons being promoted to LEUT during his service in HMAS Yarra in 1982.
In 1983 LEUT Parsons was posted as the Operations Officer to the shore establishment HMAS Huon located in Hobart. As part of this posting Parsons acted as the full time captain of the training vessel ARDENT. Postings to the Navy's Officer training establishment, HMAS Creswell and Navy Office in Canberra followed.
After five years ashore, Parsons was posted to the Landing Ship Heavy HMAS Tobruk during which time he was lucky enough to visit Gallipoli for the 75th Anniversary of that campaign. He was promoted to LCDR in 1990 and posted to Melbourne as the Operations Officer for Victoria. Subsequent postings to HQ Naval Training Command and HMAS Cerberus ensued before returning to sea in HMAS Perth in 1996.
Selected for Command in 1996, Parsons was posted in Command of the Fremantle Class Patrol Boat HMAS Whyalla where he served for two years. Postings in Command of the patrol boats HMAS Bendigo and Wollongong followed, making him one of the Navy's most experienced patrol boat Captains. On completion of his charge positions Parsons served as the Operations Coordinator Far North Queensland, whilst concurrently acting as the Minor War Vessel Programming Officer.
In 2002 Parsons served as the Maritime Surveillance Adviser to the Cook Islands. Based in Rarotonga, he oversaw the conduct of maritime surveillance in that country's EEZ, and was instrumental in the apprehension by the Cook Islands Patrol Boat of two illegal foreign fishing vessels. These were the first vessels ever apprehended in the Cook Islands since the provision of surveillance support by Australia which commenced in 1991.
Upon his return to Australian in 2005, LCDR Parsons served in Operation Division in Maritime Headquarters in Sydney, prior to his posting to the Joint Planning cell at Headquarters 1 Division (Army) at Enoggera in Brisbane. He was selected to Command one of the Cairns based Armidale Class patrol boats in 2006 and took up that position as CO ARDENT THREE in Jan 2007.
LCDR Parsons enjoys playing golf, texas hold'em poker and fishing.
