- Chris Ritchie
-
Vice Admiral
Christopher Angus Ritchie
AO, RAN
Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie (left) receives an award from Admiral Vern Clark, U.S. Chief of Naval Operations, February 2003Nickname Chris Born 16 January 1949 (age 62) Allegiance Australia
Service/branch Royal Australian Navy
Years of service 1968 - 2005 Rank Vice Admiral
Commands held Chief of Navy
Deputy Chief of Navy
HMAS Tarakan
HMAS Torrens
HMAS BrisbaneBattles/wars Vietnam War
Gulf WarAwards Officer of the Order of Australia Other work Patron of the Australasian Hydrographic Society Vice Admiral Christopher Angus (Chris) Ritchie AO (born 16 January 1949) is a retired Vice Admiral of the Royal Australian Navy, and was Chief of Navy from 2002 to 2005.
Service history
Ritchie graduated from the RAN College at Jervis Bay in 1968. He received further training at sea and in the United Kingdom before undertaking a succession of seagoing appointments and a staff appointment at the NATO School of Maritime Operations at HMS DRYAD. His commands have included HMAS Tarakan, HMAS Torrens, and HMAS Brisbane.
During his period in command of HMAS Brisbane, the ship deployed to the Persian Gulf where she participated for the duration of the Persian Gulf War.[1] In 1991, as a result of this service, he was appointed a Member in the Military Division of the Order of Australia (AM).
In 1992 he attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in the United Kingdom. On completion of this course he was promoted to Commodore and had appointments in Naval Policy and Warfare, and Military Strategy and Concepts.[citation needed] In 1997 he was promoted to Rear Admiral and appointed as Maritime Commander Australia (MCAUST).[citation needed] He then served as Deputy Chief of Navy (DCN) and Head of Capability Systems (HCS).[1]
As a consequence of his service in these appointments, and in addition to receiving the Centenary medal,[2] he was promoted to Officer in the Military Division of the Order of Australia (AO) in January 2001.[3] He was promoted to Vice Admiral and appointed Commander Australian Theatre (COMAST) on 3 August 2001. He was the first Commander to have previously served as a Component Commander to the Headquarters. He assumed command of the Royal Australian Navy from Chief of Navy (CN) Vice Admiral David Shackleton on 3 July 2002 and retired in July 2005.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie AO, RANR - Ancors Fellow[dead link] Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources & Security - archived copy
- ^ It's an Honour - Centenary Medal - 1 January 2001
Citation: For services to Australian society through the Royal Australian Navy. - ^ It's an Honour - Officer of the Order of Australia - 26 January 2001
Citation: For distinguished service to the Australian Defence Force and the Royal Australian Navy as the Maritime Commander Australia, Deputy Chief of Navy and Head Capability Systems.
External links
- Copyright photo of VADM Chris Ritchie, Chief of Navy, ANZAC Day 2005.
Military offices Preceded by
Vice Admiral David ShackletonChief of Navy
2002 – 2005Succeeded by
Vice Admiral Russ ShaldersPreceded by
Rear Admiral ?Deputy Chief of Navy
1999 – 2000Succeeded by
Rear Admiral Brian AdamsPreceded by
Rear Admiral Christopher OxenbouldMaritime Commander Australia
1997 – 1999Succeeded by
Rear Admiral John LordChiefs of the Royal Australian NavyDirector,
Commonwealth Naval ForcesFirst Naval Members,
Australian Commonwealth Naval BoardSir William Rooke Creswell • Sir Percy Grant • Sir Allan Everett • Percival Hall-Thompson • William Napier • Sir William Munro Kerr • Sir George Hyde • Sir Ragnar Colvin • Sir Guy Royle • Sir Louis Keppel Hamilton • Sir John Augustine Collins • Sir Roy Dowling • Sir Henry Burrell • Sir Hastings Harrington • Sir Alan McNicoll • Sir Victor Smith • Sir Richard Peek • Sir David Stevenson
Chiefs of the Naval Staff Sir Anthony Synnot • Sir James Willis • David Leach • Michael Hudson • Ian MacDougall • Rodney Taylor
Chiefs of Navy Rodney Taylor • Donald Chalmers • David Shackleton • Chris Ritchie • Russ Shalders • Russell Crane • Raymond Griggs
Rear Admiral Commanding HM Australian Fleet Sir George Patey · Sir William Pakenham · Arthur Leveson · Sir Lionel Halsey · John Dumaresq · Albert Addison · Thomas Wardle
Rear Admiral Commanding HM Australian Squadron George Hyde · Edward Evans · Leonard Holbrook · Robin Dalglish · Wilbraham Ford · Richard Lane-Poole · Wilfred Custance · Wilfrid Patterson · John Crace · Victor Crutchley · John Collins · Charles Nichols · Harold Farncomb · John Collins · Harold Farncomb
Flag Officer Commanding HM Australian Fleet John Eccles · John Eaton · Roy Dowling · Henry Burrell · David Harries · Henry Burrell · Galfrey Gatacre · Hastings Harrington · Alan McNicoll · Otto Becher · Thomas Morrison · Victor Smith · Richard Peek · Gordon Crabb · David Stevenson · William Dovers · David Stevenson · William Dovers · Anthony Synnot · David Wells · Geoffrey Gladstone · Neil McDonald · James Willis · David Leach · Peter Doyle · John Stevens · Michael Hudson · Geoffrey Woolrych · Ian Knox · Peter Sinclair
Maritime Commander Australia Peter Sinclair · Ian MacDougall · Ken Doolan · Robert Walls · Donald Chalmers · Chris Oxenbould · Chris Ritchie · John Lord · Geoffrey Smith · Raydon Gates · Rowan Moffitt · Davyd Thomas
Commander Australian Fleet Davyd Thomas · Nigel Coates · Steve Gilmore
Categories:- 1949 births
- Australian military personnel of the Vietnam War
- Living people
- Officers of the Order of Australia
- Recipients of the Centenary Medal
- Foreign recipients of the Legion of Merit
- Royal Australian Navy admirals
- Alumni of the Royal College of Defence Studies
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