Lieutenant Commander William Hooper

Lieutenant Commander William "Cam" Hooper is a Seaman Officer in the Royal Australian Navy. Born in Melbourne, VIC in 1974, he was educated at Brighton Grammar School before completing a Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Geology at Monash University. He joined the Royal Australian Navy in January 2001 as a Direct Entry Officer at HMAS Creswell in Jervis Bay.

LCDR Hooper sat his fleet board in November 2002 before attaining his full BWC in September 2003 and remained serving in HMAS Gascoyne as the Weapons Officer / Officer of the Watch (OOW).

In January 2004 LCDR Hooper was posted as the Navigating Officer to the Fremantle Class Patrol Boat (FCPB) HMAS Warrnambool. During this posting, Warrnambool patrolled Australia’s northern waters apprehending illegal fisherman and conducting other border protection duties as part of Operations CRANBERRY and RELEX II. A highlight of the posting was the ships appearance in several episodes of the television program “Border Security” allowing the public an insight to life at sea aboard an operational patrol boat in the Royal Australian Navy. Hooper remained in Warrnambool until it decommissioned in November 2005, to make way for the new Armidale Class Patrol Boats (ACPB) that are in service today.

In January 2006 LCDR Hooper was posted as the inaugural Executive Officer of the ACPB crew ASSAIL THREE. During this period ASSAIL THREE introduced into service and commissioned HMAS Ararat. ASSAIL THREE also served in HMA Ships Broome and Pirie conducting numerous fishery and border protection patrols of Australia’s ocean borders under Operation RESOLUTE.

LCDR Hooper assumed command of the Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) HMAS Betano on 03 Nov 2008. During his command, Betano has twice been awarded the Minor War Vessel Shield for best overall performance during fleet Minor War Vessel Concentration Periods, awarded the LCH Proficiency Shield in the 2009 Fleet Awards and was runner up in 2010. The highlight of his command has been Betano’s participation in Pacific Partnership 2009 for which the ships company drew high praise for their efforts throughout the US led Humanitarian Assistance Mission.

Lieutenant Commander Hooper is married to Alison and has a young daughter Pia. His interests include; Sailing, AFL and Travelling.