Lieutenant William Hooper

Lieutenant William Hooper RAN was born in Melbourne, VIC in 1974. William ‘Cam’ Hooper 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 Seaman Officer at HMAS Creswell in Jervis Bay.

Hooper sat his fleet board in November 2002 before attaining his full Bridge Warfare Certificate in HMAS Gascoyne in September 2003 where he remained as the Weapons Officer and an Officer of the Watch.

In January 2004, Hooper was posted to the Fremantle Class Patrol Boat HMAS Warrnambool as the Navigating Officer, joining the ship in Darwin upon completion of his Intermediate Navigation Course. During this posting Warrnambool conducted numerous patrols of Australia’s northern waters apprehending illegal fisherman along with other Border Protection duties for Operations Cranberry and Relex II. A highlight of the posting was the ship's appearance in several episodes of the television program “Border Security” allowing the public an insight to life at sea on 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, 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 at Docklands, Melbourne in November 2006. 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.

In November 2008, Hooper assumed command of the Landing Craft Heavy HMAS Betano, which has since been awarded the Minor War Vessel Shield for best overall performance at the Minor War Vessel Concentration Period and participated in the Amphibious Exercises Squadex and Sea Lion, held in conjunction with the Royal New Zealand Navy.

Lieutenant Hooper is married to Alison and has a young daughter Pia. His interests include sailing, AFL and travelling.