Russ Shalders

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Russell Edward Shalders
September 8, 1951 (1951-09-08) (age 56)

Russ Shalders, Chief of Navy (Australia) is greeted by Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd at the 2008 National Anzac Day service, Australian War Memorial, Canberra.
Nickname Russ
Allegiance Flag of Australia Australia
Service/branch Royal Australian Navy
Years of service 1967-2008
Rank Vice Admiral
Battles/wars Vietnam War
Gulf War
Awards Officer Of The Order Of Australia
Conspicuous Service Cross

Vice Admiral Russell Edward Shalders, AO, CSC, RAN (b. 8 September 1951) is an admiral in the Royal Australian Navy. He served as Vice Chief of the Australian Defence Force 2002-2005, and Chief of Navy 2005-2008.

Contents

[edit] Servce History

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[1] 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.[2]

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. In March 2008 it was announced he will retire from the ADF on completion of his appointment in July 2008.

[edit] Personal

In his spare time, Vice Admiral Shalders enjoys golf, jogging and gardening. His brother, Commodore Richard Shalders CSC RAN, is Commander Australian Navy Submarine Group (CANSG)[3][4]

[edit] Awards

Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) 26 January 2003[2]
Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) 4 November 1991[1]
Australian Active Service Medal 1945-1975 with VIETNAM clasp
Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal
Australian Service Medal 1945-1975 with FESR and PNG clasps
Australian Service Medal with KUWAIT clasp
Centenary Medal 1 January 2001[5]
Defence Force Service Medal with Federation Star (40-45 years service)
National Medal 9 March 1991[6]
Australian Defence Medal


Military offices
Preceded by
VADM Chris Ritchie AO, RAN		 Chief of Navy, Australia
2005-2008		 Succeeded by
VADM Russell Crane AM, CSM, RAN
Preceded by
LTGEN Desmond Mueller AO		 Vice Chief of the Defence Force
2002–2005		 Succeeded by
LTGEN Ken Gillespie AO, DSC, CSM

[edit] References and notes

  1. ^ a b Conspicuous Service Cross - Russell Shalders. It's an Honour. Australian Government. Retrieved on 2008-06-08.
  2. ^ a b AO - Russel Shalders. It's an Honour. Australian Government. Retrieved on 2008-06-08.
  3. ^ HMAS Rankin awarded Gloucester Cup L-R: RADM Coates, MAJGEN Jeffery (Rtd), CMDR Stanford, CDRE Richard Shalders, 8 April 2008 (Hi res) (source) (copyright)
  4. ^ A Few Words About 'the Silent Service'
  5. ^ Centenary Medal - Russel Shalders. It's an Honour. Australian Government. Retrieved on 2008-06-08.
  6. ^ National Medal - Russell Shalders. It's an Honour. Australian Government. Retrieved on 2008-06-08.

[edit] External links