Training Commander HMAS Creswell

Commander Patrick Liam O'Brien, RAN

Deputy Training Authority - Initial Training Leadership and Management

Commander O’Brien joined the RAN in 1989 as Training Systems Officer. After Initial Training at HMA Ships Creswell and Cerberus, he joined HMAS Nirimba as an Electronics Instructor. In 1992, he was posted to HMAS Platypus for Submarine Officers’ Training, before serving in HMA Submarines Orion and Onslow and then the Submarine School at HMAS Platypus. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1993, whilst serving in HMAS Orion.

As a Lieutenant, Commander O’Brien joined the Training Consultancy and Validation Cell at (the then) Training Centre-East in Sydney. He was involved in the development of Maritime Warfare Officer Application Training, validation of Command Designate training for Minor War Vessels and developed the RAN Navigation Officer Competency Standards that are still in use today. He was commended in 1996 for his work on the Navigation Review.

In 1997, Commander O’Brien was posted to the Mine Warfare Faculty as the Training Consultancy Manager, working in the Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Faculties. He was temporarily promoted to Lieutenant Commander in 1999, as the Officer In Charge of Fleet Training Liaison Agency, and was confirmed in rank in 2000. Commander O’Brien served in HMAS Manoora in 2001 to 2004, undertaking service in the Persian Gulf for Operations CATALYST and FALCONER, and the Solomon Islands for Operation ANODE. He was then appointed as the Officer In Charge of the Sailors’ Leadership and Management Faculty, overseeing the leadership and Management training for Junior Sailors – ashore and at sea. He was posted to the Australian Command and Staff Course for 2006, and promoted to Commander in 2007.

Commander O’Brien was selected as the Officer In Charge of Navy Personnel and Training Centre – East, one of the four training specialist organisations in Navy. With the standing up of Training Force, in Fleet Headquarters in 2009, Commander O’Brien transitioned Navy Personnel and Training Centre – East to become a new organisation - Commander Individual Training - responsible for training pipeline management across the RAN. Commander O’Brien was appointed as the Training Commander and Deputy Training Authority for Initial Training, Leadership and Management in 2011.

Commander O’Brien has one son, Liam, who he considers his greatest achievement.