Vice Admiral Michael Noonan AO joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1984, trained as a seaman officer and subsequently completed Principal Warfare Officers course and specialised in Air Direction and Above Water Warfare. Throughout his career, he had experience in a wide range of Navy and ADF operations through various sea and shore posting and operational roles. Highlights have included deployments to the Middle East, Southern Ocean and being the Commissioning Commanding Officer of the ANZAC class frigate HMAS Parramatta. He has fulfilled leadership positions at all levels of the Australian Defence Force, including as director of military strategic commitments, director general of operations at HQJOC, Command of Maritime Border Command, and deputy chief of navy. In June 2018, Vice Admiral Noonan was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia in recognition of his distinguished service in significant senior ADF command roles. Vice Admiral Noonan assumed command of the Royal Australian Navy on 7 July 2018 and will be the 32nd professional head of the Australian Navy, and the 9th officer to hold the title of Chief of Navy Australia. In this role, he is entrusted by the Australian Government to be its principal naval advisor and to raise, train and sustain Australia’s naval forces to execute maritime missions in a dynamic region.
