Deputy Chief of Navy and Head Navy People Training and Resources
The Deputy Chief of Navy (DCN) is the second most senior appointment in the Royal Australian Navy, responsible to the Chief of Navy Australia. The rank associated with the position is Rear Admiral (2-star).
DCN/HNPTAR has two parallel sets of responsibilities. First, as the manager of Navy Headquarters they are responsible for the alignment of accountability, responsibility, performance and resource management within the Royal Australian Navy. Second they are responsible for managing the Navy’s uniformed integrated workforce (both permanent and reserve personnel) and members of the Australian Public Service. Commodore Training (COMTRAIN) reports to DCN and is responsible for individual and ship level training.
Rear Admiral Chris Smith CSM RAN was appointed Deputy Chief of Navy/Head Navy People Training and Resources on 11 September 2020.
Rear Admiral Jonathan Earley
Rear Admiral Jonathan Earley, CSC, RAN, assumed the role of Deputy Chief of the Royal Australian Navy on the 16th of December 2022. Rear Admiral Jonathan Earley was born in Perth, Western Australia,...
List of Previous Deputy Chiefs of Navy
(1999 - 2000)
Rear Admiral Geoffrey Francis Smith
Geoffrey Francis ‘Geoff’ Smith was born in Sydney on 16 May 1950 and entered the Royal Australian Naval College (HMAS Creswell) in January 1968 as a senior entry Cadet Midshipman. In late 1969 he...
(1999 - 1999)
Vice Admiral Christopher Angus Ritchie
Christopher 'Chris' Angus Ritchie was born in East Melbourne, Victoria on 16 January 1949. Chris Ritchie graduated from the RAN College at Jervis Bay in 1968. He received further training at sea and...
(1997 - 1999)
Rear Admiral Christopher John Oxenbould
Christopher John Oxenbould was born on 19 November 1946 in Cremorne, Sydney and educated at Sydney Church of England Grammar School (Shore). He entered the RAN College as a junior entry Cadet...
(1996 - 1997)
Admiral Christopher Alexander Barrie
Chris Barrie was born in Marrickville, Sydney in 1945 and educated at North Sydney Boys High School. He joined the Royal Australian Naval College in 1961 as a Cadet Midshipman and during his early...
(1994-1995)
Rear Admiral David John Campbell
David John Campbell was born in Brisbane in 1945 and joined the Navy as a 15-year-old. He graduated from the Royal Australian Naval College, Jervis Bay, as the Queen's Medallist. After fleet...
(1991)
Vice Admiral Robert Andrew Kevin Walls
Robert Walls was born at Colac, Victoria and educated at country schools before joining the Royal Australian Navy College (HMAS Cerberus) as a Cadet Midshipman in the last 13-year old entry, in...
(1991 - 1994)
Vice Admiral Rodney Graham Taylor
Rodney Graham Taylor was born at Toowoomba, Queensland on 11 June 1940 and joined the RAN as a 13-year old junior entry cadet midshipman in 1954. He undertook his initial training at the Royal...
(1990-1991)
Vice Admiral Ian Donald George MacDougall
Ian Donald George MacDougall was born in Sydney on 23 February 1938 and joined the Royal Australian Naval College as a 15-year old Cadet Midshipman in January 1954. He graduated the following year...
(1989 - 1990)
Rear Admiral Kenneth Allan Doolan
Kenneth Allan 'Ken' Doolan was born in Hurlstone Park, Sydney on 15 January 1939. He attended Kyogle Primary School, Wilston State School and Kedron State School before entering the Royal Australian...
(1985-1989)
Rear Admiral Neil Ralph
Neil Ralph was born at Carlton, Melbourne on 25 June 1932 into a family of eight children. His family resided in Ararat where he undertook his education and after completing high school he worked as...
