User:David.shackleton

David John Shackleton

David John Shackleton AO (born 2 March 1948, Leeds UK) is a Vice Admiral of the Royal Australian Navy, and Chief of Navy (3 July 1999 – 2002)

Career Highlights

	Joined Navy from Adelaide South Australia in 1966 under Supplementary List (Executive) Scheme with initial tenure of 9 years.

	Retired from Navy in 2002 after 36 years service.

	Extensive sea service, with 14 seagoing postings.

	Exchange service with Royal Navy (HMS Ariadne) and advanced warfare training (1975 – 78).

	Attended RAN Staff College (1980) and Joint Services Staff College (1987).

	Commanded HMAS Derwent (DE 49) 1988-89.

o	Task Group commander for several lengthy deployments

o	Commander Maritime (opposing forces) for Exercise Kangaroo 89 - the largest exercise held by the Australian Defence Force at that time

o	Derwent was awarded the annual Gloucester Cup prize for the most proficient ship in the RAN

o	First Western Australian based ship to win this prize

	Promoted Captain 1989

	Operational Requirements Manager for Jindalee Over the Horizon Radar project (1990-91)

	Commanded HMAS Brisbane (DDG 41) 1991-92. o	Task Group commander for largest RAN South East Asian deployment conducted at that time o	Runner up for Gloucester Cup annual prize for overall fleet proficiency

	Inaugural Chief Staff Officer C3I Maritime Command, responsible for Navy Intelligence matters (1993).

	Promoted to Commodore and appointed Director General Naval Policy and Warfare (1993).

	Attended USN Post Graduate School Senior International Defence Management Course (1994).

	Inaugural Director General Command and Support Systems with acquisition and project management responsibilities for all Australian Defence Force major command and control and intelligence systems (1996).

	Awarded MBA (Executive) from Monash University (1998).

	Promoted Rear Admiral and appointed Head Capability Development (1998) with responsibilities for all Australian Defence Force major capabilities.

	Promoted Vice Admiral and appointed Chief of Navy. Assumed command of Royal Australian Navy from Vice Admiral Don Chalmers 3 July 1999.

o	Initiated largest organisational redesign of Navy for many years

	Revitalised Navy planning process

	Re-formed Navy Headquarters

	Formed Navy Systems Command

	Formed Navy Force Element Groups

o	Oversaw Collins Submarine transition and improvement program

o	Shaped naval matters for wide range of operation activities

	East Timor independence from Indonesia

	Involvement in Persian Gulf operations

	Senior Navy witness to Senate Enquiry into ‘Children Overboard’

o	Gained Government agreement to incorporation of advanced Air Warfare Destroyer program in substantial overhaul of Government Defence Policy (2000)

o	Substantially improved quality of relationship between RAN and many counterparts

o	Accompanied Prime Minister John Howard to the US during 911 terrorist attacks

o	Appointed Officer in Order of Australia (2000)

o	Appointed Commander in US Legion of Merit (2001)