Michael Hudson (admiral)

Admiral Michael Wyndham Hudson AC, RAN
Nickname	Mike
Born	10 March 1933 Taree, NSW, Australia
Died	27 February 2005 (2005-02-28) (aged 71) Sydney, NSW, Australia
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Royal Australian Navy
Years of service	1947–1991
Rank	Admiral
Commands held	Chief of Naval Staff HMAS Melbourne HMAS Stalwart HMAS Brisbane HMAS Vendetta
Battles/wars	Korean War Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation Vietnam War
Awards	Companion of the Order of Australia
Other work	National President of the Naval Association of Australia

Rear Admiral David Martin standing second left beside then Defence Minister Kim Beazley and Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Michael Hudson at right. (1986)

Admiral Michael Wyndham Hudson AC (10 March 1933 – 27 February 2005) was a senior officer within the Royal Australian Navy, particularly notable for playing an important role in the introduction of the Collins class submarines, Anzac Class frigates and establishing two-ocean basing for ships of the RAN. He served as Chief of Naval Staff from 1985 to 1991.

Early life

Michael Hudson was born on the 10 March 1933 in Taree, New South Wales. His family moved to the Sydney suburb of Mosman when he was of a young age, where he developed an early interest in the Navy, frequently watching the Naval shipping from Balmoral. His first year of secondary schooling was spent at North Sydney Boys High School.^[1]

Service history

Hudson joined the Royal Australian Naval College as a cadet midshipman in January 1947. Graduating three years later with the King's Medal, he decided to specialise in navigation.^[1]

As a midshipman, Hudson was posted to HMAS Sydney, which included a six month deployment for service in the Korean War.^[2]

Hudson proceeded to command HMA Ships Brisbane, Stalwart, Melbourne, and Vendetta, which included a posting as Fleet Operations Officer during the Vietnam War,^[3] having previously served a tour in the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation from 1964 to 1966.

Hudson then received a series of staff appointments in the Navy Office, firstly as Director of Naval Plans, later becoming Director of Naval Plans and Policy. He then assumed the position of Flag Officer Commanding Her Majesty's Australian Fleet.^[4] On 11 June 1984 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for his service in this position.^[5]

Hudson was promoted to vice admiral and was appointed Chief of Naval Staff on 21 April 1985.^[4] During his tenure, he signed contracts for the replacement of Collins class submarines, ANZAC class frigates and the Paluma class survey vessels. Also during this period, naval infrastructure was overhauled, Two-Ocean Basing commenced, and service conditions were improved.^[4] He was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia on 13 June 1987.^[6]

To honour his distinguished forty-four years of service to the Navy, Prime Minister Bob Hawke promoted Hudson to the rank of admiral on the day of his retirement - 8 March 1991.^[7]

Later life

In retirement, Hudson took an active interest in the welfare of naval veterans and serving personnel. He served as National President of the Naval Association of Australia and Chairman of the Australian Veterans' Children Assistance Trust.

Admiral Mike Hudson died at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, on 27 February 2005.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Navy News - Final farewell for Admiral". Navy News. Royal Australian Navy. http://www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews/editions/4804/feature/feature06.htm. 
2. ^ Korean War Nominal Roll, www.koreanroll.gov.au
3. ^ Vietnam War Nominal Roll, www.vietnamroll.gov.au
4. ^ ^{a b c} "Obituary - Admiral Mike Hudson AC, RAN Retd. 1933 – 2005". Naval Historical Review. http://navalassoc.org.au/MikeHudsonPhotObituaryNavalHistoricalReviewMar05.pdf. 
5. ^ It's an Honour - Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)
6. ^ It's an Honour - Companion of the Order of Australia (AC)
7. ^ Australian Naval History on 8 March 1991, Naval Historical Society of Australia

External links

• The Naval Association of Australia - Admiral Mike Hudson AC RAN

Military offices
Preceded by Vice Admiral David Leach	Chief of Naval Staff 1985 – 1991	Succeeded by Vice Admiral Ian MacDougall
Preceded by Rear Admiral John Stevens	Flag Officer Commanding HM Australian Fleet 1982 – 1983	Succeeded by Rear Admiral Geoffrey Woolrych

Persondata
Name	Hudson
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	10 March 1933
Place of birth	Taree, New South Wales, Australia
Date of death	27 February 2005
Place of death	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia