Warrant Officer of the Navy
Warrant Officer Mark Tandy,
Warrant Officer of the Navy Mark Tandy was born in Roebourne Western Australia, went to school in Tennant Creek and Darwin in the Northern Territory and enlisted into the Royal Australian Navy as a Radio Operator in 1982. He has served as a communications operator/supervisor in a wide range of establishments and ships. Shore postings have included HMA Ships Albatross, Coonawarra, Harman, Cerberus and ADF Recruiting Unit Townsville. Sea postings have included HMA Ships Jervis bay, Canberra, Cessnock (II), Warrnambool, Dubbo (II), Success and a short time in Vampire (II).
In 2000, then CPO Tandy was posted to the Communications School at Cerberus as Senior Instructor Radio Frequency Management (SIRFM). As , he trained ADF and foreign personnel in-country as well as conducting foreign training courses in the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand.
Promoted to WO in December 2002, he assumed the challenging position of Operations Officer Naval Communications Area Master Station Australia () during Gulf War 2.
In 2004, WO Tandy joined the Royal Australian Naval College at Creswell as one of two course instructors facilitating the Chiefs’ Leadership and Development Program (CLDP). During his posting to Creswell WO Tandy received a Commanding Officer’s Commendation and a Navy Systems Command Quarterly Contribution Award.
In 2005, WO Tandy was selected to participate in Exercise LongLook and conducted a four month exchange with the Royal Navy (RN). Employed as a Lead Instructor at the Command and Training Group (CTG) HMS Collingwood, WO Tandy gained valuable experience in how the RN prepares their Senior Rates for Command and Leadership roles.
WO Tandy attended the Single Service Component of the Command and Staff course held at Weston Creek in 2007. He holds a Masters in Maritime Studies.
On completion of the Command and Staff course WO Tandy was posted to the Directorate of Sailors' Career Management as the Officer-in-Charge of the Submarine and Seaman categories Cell.
WO Tandy was selected as Command Warrant Officer Career Management in August 2008 but did not take up the position as he was selected to be the sixth Warrant Officer of the Navy (WON) in October 2008. WO Tandy assumed the WON appointment on 19 December 2008.
Role of the Warrant Officer of the Navy
The Warrant Officer of the Navy (WON), is responsible to the Chief of Navy (CN), and as the most senior ranking sailor in the Navy is entitled to exercise command over all other Sailors in the RAN. The WON is a member of the personal staff of the CN and as such, operates from the office of the CN and is a member of Chief of Navy's Senior Advisory Committee (CNSAC). The WON's primary duty is to represent to CN and others the solicited and unsolicited views, concerns and opinions of Sailors, which affect the Navy as a whole. In addition, the WON is responsible for:
- assisting in the overall maintenance of discipline and morale of Sailors in the RAN;
- providing input as necessary to ad hoc reviews/inquiries;
- channeling feedback to Navy Headquarters Directorates;
- representing Sailors on standing committees;
- advising any Officer seeking advice on matters relating to Sailors in general; and
- the management of all Warrant Officer positions as the Rank Sponsor.
WON provides administrative advice and input to the CN of any need to review regulations or conditions of service, monitors the effectiveness of the Divisional System, and guides Warrant Officers and Senior Sailors Messes on matters of administration, and protocol. He maintains a close working relationship with the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army and the Warrant Officer of the Air Force.
Either by invitation alone or in company with the CN (or representatives) the WON is the senior non-commissioned representative of personnel at significant ceremonial occasions, appropriate functions and civil receptions. In addition to being a permanent member of formal advisory groups and councils, WON is also a Director on the Boards of Navy Health Pty. Ltd.
