Publication:Sea Talk Spring 2005/Reserve contribution by CDRE Karel de Laat

The outgoing Director General Reserves - Navy, Commodore Karel de Laat, was DGRES-N for just over seven years.

A Registered Psychologist, CDRE de Laat has a Bachelor of Arts and Diploma in Psychology, a Masters degree and has managed his own consultancy in Brisbane since 1983.

CDRE de Laat was initially appointed as a Consultant Psychologist to the RAN in 1976. In 1978, he was commissioned as a direct entry Lieutenant in the Naval Reserve and undertook professional duties at the Brisbane Port Division of the RANR, then located at HMAS Moreton, for the nationally based Directorate of Psychology-Navy.

After being promoted to LCDR in 1986, he was appointed as a divisional officer and introduced a range of recruiting and training initiatives using an integrated team of career Reservists and ex-PN officers and sailors.

Promotion to Commander in 1995 led to project work on performance management systems for the RAN and appointment as the Senior Naval Reserve Psychologist.

In 1997, selection as Director Reserves Utilisation Policy and Chairman of the Force Mix Review Board Working Group involved the development of strategies for advancing Reserve integration into the RAN to achieve the 'Total Force'.

Selection as Director General Reserves - Navy and promotion to Captain in 1998 led to the initiation of a range of strategies for integration of Naval Reserve elements into the RAN command and control structure and for the enhancement of the Naval Reserve's contribution to Naval capability.

CDRE de Laat was promoted to star rank in 2001, was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) in the Queens Birthday Honours list in 2004 and awarded a Reserve Force Decoration (RFD), with two bars, in 2004.