Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AM RAN has been appointed the new Chief of the Navy. He was promoted to Vice Admiral upon appointment.
The appointment was announced by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles among a number of senior appointments.
He announced two-year extensions to the terms of the Chief of the Defence Force, General Angus Campbell AO DSC and the Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Vice Admiral David Johnston AC RAN.
The CDF has also agreed to extend the term of the Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Greg Bilton AO CSC for two years.
Before his appointment Vice Admiral Hammond was Commander of Fleet. He will be succeeded in that role by Commodore Jonathan Earley CSC RAN.
Vice Admiral Hammond joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1986 as an electronics technician at HMAS Cerberus. He was commissioned as a naval officer in 1988 and is a graduate of the RAN Recruit School (1986); the Australian Defence Force Academy (1990); Australian Command and Staff College (2004); and the Centre for Defence Strategic Studies (2014).
He completed seamanship and navigation training in various ships then volunteered for submarine service. Qualifying in Oberon Class submarines in 1994, Hammond joined HMAS Collins as Navigating Officer in 1996 (during First of Class Trials), and later served as Flag Lieutenant to the Chief of Navy. He subsequently completed the Principal Warfare Officer’s Course and Submarine Warfare Course in 1998, and served as the commissioning Operations Officer in HMAS Waller. In 2001 Rear Admiral Hammond instructed the Submarine Warfare Officer Course and assumed duties as Executive Officer in HMAS Sheean. In 2003 Hammond completed the Netherlands Submarine Command Course (Perisher) and the US Navy’s Prospective Commanding Officer Course.
Serving as Staff Officer Future Concepts at Naval Headquarters in late 2003 he graduated from the Australian Command and Staff Course in 2004. Hammond then deployed on operations with the Royal Navy Submarine force, before assuming command of HMAS Farncomb and completing two years of demanding operations in the Indo Pacific region.
Subsequent shore postings included Assistant Naval Attaché – Washington DC, USA; Director Future Submarines – Operational Requirements; Joint Exercise Director (J75) at Joint Operations Command; Director Submarine Sub-Program (Collins and Future Submarines); and Chief of Staff to the Chief of the Defence Force, performing the latter role for General Hurley from November 2012 to December 2013.
In late 2014 Commodore Hammond was appointed as Director General Maritime Operations, exercising operational control of the Navy’s ships, submarines and detachments, before relocating in 2017 to the United States for duties in the Pentagon as the Chief of Defence Force Liaison Officer to General Joseph Dunford, the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Rear Admiral Hammond returned to Australia in March 2018 to assume duties as the Deputy Chief of Navy. On 17 November 2020 he was appointed as the Commander Australian Fleet based in Sydney and responsible for the raise, train and sustain activities for the Australian fleet.
Rear Admiral Hammond has sea experience in French, British and US nuclear attack submarines, Australian and Dutch conventional submarines, and multiple surface vessels. Academic qualifications include Bachelor of Science (UNSW, ADFA, 1991); Masters in Management (Defence Studies, UCAN, 2004); and Masters in Maritime Studies (UoW, 2005).
Referring to the appointments, Defence Minister Marles said, “I do not underestimate the significance of the Government’s request for additional service from General Campbell, Vice Admiral Johnston and Lieutenant General Bilton and importantly, their families.
“Our decision to extend their tenure reflects the value of their contribution to-date and the importance of continuity in delivering capability and providing advice at a time when our nation faces great challenges. I am grateful for their willingness to continue to serve and look forward to working with them in the years ahead.
“I was also pleased to announce a new team of Chiefs for Navy, Army and Air Force for the next four years.
“Rear Admiral Mark Hammond AM RAN, on promotion to Vice Admiral, has been selected to be the Chief of Navy.
“Major General Simon Stuart AO DSC, on promotion to Lieutenant General, has been selected to be the Chief of Army.
“Air Vice-Marshal Robert Chipman AM CSC, on promotion to Air Marshal, has been selected to be the Chief of Air Force.
“This team assumes their leadership roles in a strong position thanks to the service of our outgoing Chiefs and I want to reaffirm the Government’s deep gratitude for the contribution of the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Michael Noonan AO RAN, Chief of Army, Lieutenant General
Rick Burr AO DSC MVO, and Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld AO DSC.
“While I only worked with these officers for a short time, their distinguished service over many years, particularly in a time punctuated by significant cultural change and modernisation of military capabilities, is testament to their valuable contribution to our nation and to the Australian Defence Force.
“As Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, I couldn’t want for a better group of people to have led us to this point and to support me moving forward as we work together to deliver on the Government’s agenda to keep Australia safe, secure and prosperous.”
