Admiral Christopher Alexander Barrie
Deputy Chief of Navy (1996 - 1997)
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 naval training served in HMA Ships Anzac, Vampire and Melbourne. Postings to the Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth and HMS Excellent followed.
Barrie was a member of the commissioning crew of HMAS Brisbane and he later served in her during a seven month deployment to Vietnam, in 1969, where she operated on the gunline with the US Navy provided naval gunfire support to land forces ashore. Later appointments included Commanding Officer of the patrol boat HMAS Buccaneer; Operations and Navigating Officer in HMS Eastbourne, HMAS Perth and HMAS Duchess; Executive Officer in HMAS Vampire; and Commanding Officer of the destroyer escort HMAS Stuart.
Barrie served as Director RAN Surface Warfare School and Commanding Officer HMAS Watson and in 1990-91 was the Defence Advisor - India. Following promotion to Commodore in 1991 he served as Deputy Maritime Commander and Chief of Staff at Maritime Headquarters in Sydney. Promoted Rear Admiral in November 1994 he was Deputy Chief of Naval Staff from May 1996-June 1997 before promotion to Vice Admiral and serving as Vice Chief of the Defence Force during 1997-1998.
Barrie was promoted to Admiral, and assumed the post of Chief of the Defence Force, on 4 July 1998. He held that post until his retirement in 2002 when he was succeeded by General Peter Cosgrove.
Through part-time study, Barrie obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1983, with a special focus on International Relations and Politics, and was awarded a Master of Business Administration degree in 1996 by Deakin University.
Barrie's military service was recognised when he was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1994, promoted to an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in June 1998 and became a Companion to the Order of Australia (AC) in January 2001.
Admiral Christopher Barrie retired from the permanent Navy on 3 July 2002.
