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 Anita Williams CSC CSM RAN

Key appointments

• Commander Australian Fleet (2026 to present)
• Deputy Fleet Commander and Director General Fleet Lethality and Force Generation (2025 to 2026)
• Director General Maritime Surface and Above Water Combat (2023 to 2025)
• Director Navy Career Management (2022 to 2023)
• Director Surface Combatants (2020 to 2022)
• Commanding Officer HMAS Newcastle (2018 to 2019)
• Commanding Officer Patrol Boat Crew Ardent II (2008 to 2010)

Biography

Rear Admiral (RADM) Williams joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1994 before specialising as a Navigator and Warfare Officer. Her seagoing appointments included HMA Ships Adelaide (II), Canberra (II) and Kanimbla, command of HMA Ships Bundaberg (II) and Childers as Commanding Officer Patrol Boat Crew ARDENT TWO, and command of HMAS Newcastle.

Her shore appointments have included Fleet Navigating Officer, Chief of Staff to Commodore Warfare, Director Surface Combatants, Director Navy Career Management, Director General Maritime Surface and Above Water Combat, and most recently Deputy Fleet Commander and Director General Fleet Lethality and Force Generation.

Her operational service includes Operations CRANBERRY, RELEX II and RESOLUTE, as well as deployments on Operation WARDEN (East Timor), Operation SUMATRA ASSIST (Indonesia) and Operation INDO-PACIFIC ENDEAVOUR throughout South-East Asia and the North Indian Ocean as Commanding Officer of HMAS Newcastle.

An alumna of Naval Command College, RADM Williams attended the United States Naval War College in 2020 and holds a Bachelor of Science with majors in Oceanography and Computer Science, a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies and a Master of Business Administration. She was awarded a Conspicuous Service Medal in 2013 for outstanding dedication and achievement in Warfare Division at Fleet Headquarters, and a Conspicuous Service Cross in 2019 for outstanding achievement in command of HMAS Newcastle.

RADM Williams is married to Nigel and together they have two children.