Commander Australian Fleet (COMAUSFLT), also referred to as Fleet Commander, is a senior appointment in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). COMAUSFLT is responsible to Chief of Navy for the force generation of fleet units and maintenance and support of ships, aircraft and other equipment.

Rear Admiral Chris Smith AM CSM RAN

Key appointments

Commander Australian Fleet (2022 – present)
Deputy Chief of Navy (2020–2022)

Biography

Rear Admiral (RADM) Chris Smith joined the Royal Australian Naval College in 1989. His seagoing appointments have included HMAS Stalwart, Parramatta (III), Brunei, Perth (II), Ipswich, Geraldton, Canberra (II), Anzac and command of HMAS Gladstone, Darwin and Canberra (III). His shore appointments have included:

  • Staff Officer to the Chief of Defence
  • Deputy Director of Sailors’ Career Management
  • Director Navy Warfare Professional Requirements
  • 2015 Force Structure Review Team
  • Commander Surface Force
  • Director General Littoral
  • Deputy Chief of Navy.

RADM Smith's operational experience has included domestic operations CRANBERRY and RELEX, and regional deployments to operations:

  • TREK (Solomon Islands) in 2000
  • ANODE (Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands), as the Commanding Officer Gladstone, in 2003
  • FIJI ASSIST (the inaugural landing helicopter dock operational deployment), as Commanding Officer Canberra III, in 2016.

He deployed to Operation CATALYST/SLIPPER as the Australian Liaison Officer to the US Central Command Forward Headquarters in 2008.

RADM Smith attended the Australian Command and Staff Course in 2004 and the US Naval War College (NCC) in 2013. While there, he was awarded the RADM Joseph C. Strasser International Leadership Prize (NCC).

RADM Smith holds a Master of Management in Defence Studies, a Master of Maritime Studies and Master of Arts (International Relations). He has attended the USN Strategic Studies Course at the Darden Business School (University of Virginia), the Executive Development Program at the Wharton Business School (University of Pennsylvania) and the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School (Harvard University).

RADM Smith assumed the role of Commander Australian Fleet on 16 December 2022.