Russ Shalders

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Vice Admiral Russell Edward Shalders, AO, CSC, RAN (b. 8 September 1951) is an admiral in the Royal Australian Navy. He has served as Vice Chief of the Australian Defence Force from July 2002, and from 4 July 2005 as Chief of Navy, Australia.

[edit] Career highlights

Shalders joined the RAN College at Jervis Bay from Victoria in 1967. After sea training he undertook Operations and Weapons courses in the United Kingdom. On returning to Australia, he was Executive Officer (2nd in command) of the patrol boat HMAS Ardent (P 84), then joined HMAS Vendetta (D-08) and then assumed command of PNGS SAMARAI in Papua New Guinea.

He then served as Divisional Officer at the RAN College in 1976, and then in HMAS Perth (D38) prior to Principal Warfare Officer training in the UK in 1978. He returned as Operations and Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer in HMAS Vendetta, then was an officer's posting officer in Canberra.

After promotion to Lieutenant Commander in 1981, he completed the Naval Staff Course for International Officers at the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island and then undertook Advanced Warfare Officer training in the UK, specialising in ASW. He joined HMAS Hobart (D39) as ASW Officer and Operations Officer in 1982, but completed this posting as Executive Officer.

In the rank of Commander, he then served at the RAN Staff College as a member of the Directing Staff from mid-1984. After two years at the embassy in Washington, D.C. in 1986-87, he assumed command of HMAS Sydney (FFG03) and was then appointed as Commander Sea Training.

On promotion to Captain, he was posted at short notice to command HMAS Darwin (FFG04) during the Persian Gulf War, and was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in recognition of this period in command. In 1991 he become Director of Naval Warfare and subsequently Director General Naval Policy and Warfare. Shalders commanded HMAS Perth in 1993-94 and attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in London in 1995.

On promotion to Commodore, he was appointed as Director General Joint Exercise Plans and then Director General Operations Policy and Doctrine and Director General Information Strategic Concepts. He returned to the Fleet to become Commodore Flotillas in January 1998, responsible for the operational efficiency of all fleet units.

On promotion to Rear Admiral in July 1999, he was seconded to the Australian Customs Service as the inaugural Director General Coastwatch. He was appointed as Head, Defence Personnel Executive in 2001.

Shalders was promoted to Vice Admiral and appointed as Vice Chief of the Defence Force in July 2002. He was awarded the AO in the Australia Day Awards list in 2003.

On 23 May 2005, the Minister for Defence announced that Shalders would succeed VADM Chris Ritchie as Chief of Navy from July 2005 for a three-year term.