At the Australian Naval Institute’s (ANI) Annual Dinner held in Canberra on 19 May 2026, the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AO RAN delivered the 2026 Vernon Parker Oration, offering a unique perspective on the strategic challenges and opportunities shaping Australia’s maritime future.
First delivered in 1989, the annual Oration is named in honour of the first ANI President, the late Commodore Vernon Parker who formed the ANI in 1975. The Institute was particularly honoured that Vice Admiral Hammond was the Vernon Parker Orator as his final act as Patron of the ANI prior to taking up his role as Chief of the Defence Force.
At the dinner, Vice Admiral Hammond announced that the winner of the eleventh ANI McNeil Prize was the Thales Above Water System Regional Maintenance Provider East (RMP-East) Team.
The McNeil Prize is awarded annually to an individual or individuals from Australian industry and academia who have made an outstanding contribution to the capabilities of the Royal Australian Navy. The McNeil Prize is named in honour of Rear Admiral Percival McNeil CB RAN (1883-1951) who was one of the great champions of Australian shipbuilding. Admiral McNeil played a pivotal role in the design and construction of the famed Bathurst class corvettes as well as helping to maintain a local warship construction capability in the post-war period.
The RMP-East Team plans and executes multi‑class maintenance and sustainment for the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) fleet on the Eastern seaboard, placing them at the centre of capability generation for two-thirds of Navy’s operational platforms.
As a key member of the Regional Maintenance Centre Enterprise, the Team shapes national sustainment processes, priorities, and integration across regions. Their work delivers high operational influence over multiple critical fleet classes, strategic influence through enterprise‑level decision‑making, and consistent delivery underpinning continuous generation of maritime capability.
In accepting the 2026 McNeil Prize, Andrew Bartlett, Vice President Above Water Systems, Thales Australia said the team’s focus is always to deliver for the customer, and like our customer – the Australian Defence Force – we are committed to securing our nation. This award recognises the expertise and dedication of the Thales team, our valued customer, and our industry partners, whose collaboration and support ensure that those who serve are equipped to protect our country and our allies.
“The RMP-East team never takes the important role they play for granted and look forward to continuing working with the Royal Australian Navy across the Australian fleet” he said.
In a special presentation at the ANI Annual Dinner, Vice Admiral Hammond was awarded Honorary Life Membership of the ANI.
Vice Admiral Hammond joined the RAN in 1986 as an electronics technician before commissioning as a naval officer in 1988. Graduating from the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) in 1990, Vice Admiral Hammond served in frigates before volunteering for submarine service and qualifying in the Oberon Class. He is a dual qualified officer, graduating from the RAN Principal Warfare Officers Course, the Netherlands and United States Navy Submarine Command courses, and is Australia’s Senior Submariner.
He served extensively in Collins Class submarines with subsequent shore postings including the Assistant Naval Attaché in Washington DC, Submarine Capability and Joint Exercise Staff roles, and 12 months as the Chief of Staff to the Chief of the Defence Force. On promotion to Commodore, Vice Admiral Hammond was appointed Director General Maritime Operations. On promotion to Rear Admiral, he assumed duties as the Deputy Chief of Navy in 2018, and in late 2020, was appointed Commander of the Australian Fleet.
Vice Admiral Hammond assumed Command as Chief of Navy on 7 July 2022 and at that time assumed the role of Patron of the Australian Naval Institute.
ANI President Commodore Pete Leavy said that it was an honour to have Vice Admiral Hammond address the Institute, particularly as he is about to be promoted and assume the role as Chief of the Defence Force.
“The Vernon-Parker Oration was a great chance for ANI members to hear directly from our Chief of Navy reflect on his four years in command of the Navy, as well as gaining a sense of his priorities in his new role. Given the maritime nature of Australia’s security challenges, particularly emphasised in the latest National Defence Strategy, it is pleasing to see the Government place their confidence in Vice Admiral Hammond to lead the ADF in these increasingly uncertain times.” Commodore Leavy said.
