Lieutenant Commander Andrew Shiels

Lieutenant Commander Andrew Shiels joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1998. He attended initial officer training at the Australian Defence Force Academy and completed a Bachelor of Science from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) before undertaking Maritime Warfare Officer training and specialising as a Hydrographic Surveyor. Lieutenant Commander Shiels completed a Master of Project Management through the University of New South Wales in December 2017, and during 2018 he undertook the Long Hydrography Course at the Indian Navy’s National Institute of Hydrography where he was awarded a Masters of Science from Goa University.

Lieutenant Commander Shiels’ seagoing experience includes hydrographic surveying operations around Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Solomon Islands in HMA Ships Shepparton, Leeuwin and Melville, and operational experience in HMA Ships Darwin, Tobruk, Leeuwin and Melville. Shore postings include the Course Implementation Officer at the RAN Hydrographic School, Staff Officer Hydrography and Patrol Boats within Capability Development Group, Staff Officer Rapid Environmental Assessment and Current Operations Watch Supervisor at Headquarters Joint Operations Command, and Staff Officer Hydrography, Meteorology and Oceanography for the Australian Hydrographic Office in Wollongong.

Lieutenant Commander Shiels’ professional hydrographic surveying qualifications include the International Hydrographic Organisation Category A accreditation and the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute Level Two certification.

Lieutenant Commander Shiels assumed Command of HMAS Shepparton in December 2020.