Publication:Sea Talk Winter 2005/The new Chief of Navy
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By LCDR Antony Underwood
VADM Russ Shalders brings more than 37 years of RAN experience to the Service's top job.
Before being appointed CN, VADM Shalders served in eight vessels, four of which he commanded, and held increasingly important staff positions including the most senior personnel position in the Defence Force before his last appointment - as VCDF.
Admiral Shalders joined the RAN College from country Victoria as a Cadet Midshipman in 1967.
As a junior officer, he completed sea training in a variety of fleet units before operations and weapons courses in the United Kingdom.
After service as Executive Officer of the Attack class patrol boat, HMAS Ardent, he joined the destroyer, HMAS Vendetta, and then assumed command of PNGS Samarai, in Papua New Guinea.
Admiral Shalders was a divisional officer at the RAN College in 1976 and then joined HMAS Perth prior to principal warfare officer training in the UK in 1978. Following a posting as Operations and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Officer in Vendetta, he joined the staff of the Director of Naval Officers Postings in Canberra.
In 1981, on promotion to Lieutenant Commander, he completed the Naval Staff Course for international officers at the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island and then undertook advanced warfare officer training in the UK, specialising in ASW.
He joined HMAS Hobart as ASW Officer and Operations Officer in 1982 and completed this posting as Executive Officer before joining the RAN Staff College as a member of the directing staff, in the rank of Commander, in mid-1984.
After two years in Washington, from 1986- 87, he assumed command of the guided missile frigate (FFG) HMAS Sydney and was then appointed as Commander Sea Training.
On promotion to Captain, he was posted at short notice to command another FFG, HMAS Darwin, during the Gulf War. He was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in recognition of this period in command. In 1991 he became Director of Naval Warfare and subsequently Director General Naval Policy and Warfare.
Admiral Shalders commanded the guided missile destroyer, HMAS Perth, in 1993-94 and attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in London in 1995.
He was appointed as Director General Joint Exercise Plans on promotion to Commodore. He later became Director General Operations Policy and Doctrine, and then Director General Information Strategic Concepts. He returned to the Fleet to become Commodore Flotillas in January 1998 responsible for the operational efficiency of all fleet units.
On promotion to Rear Admiral in July 1999, he was seconded to the Australian Customs Service as the inaugural Director General Coastwatch. He was appointed as Head, Defence Personnel Executive in 2001 and was promoted to Vice Admiral and appointed as VCDF in July 2002. He was awarded the AO in the Australia Day Awards list in 2003.
