Russ Shalders

Infobox Military Person


caption=Russ Shalders
name=Russell Edward Shalders
lived=Birth date and age|1951|9|8
placeofbirth=
placeofdeath=
nickname=Russ
allegiance= flagicon|Australia Australia
serviceyears=1967-2008
rank= Vice Admiral
branch=
commands=Chief of Navy
Vice Chief of the Defence Force
HMAS "Darwin"
HMAS "Sydney"
HMAS "Perth"
unit=
battles=Vietnam War
Gulf War
awards=Officer of the Order of Australia
Conspicuous Service Cross
laterwork=
Vice Admiral Russell Edward Shalders AO, CSC, RAN (b. 8 September 1951) is a retired admiral of the Royal Australian Navy. He served as Vice Chief of the Australian Defence Force from 2002 to 2005, and as Chief of Navy from 2005 to 2008.

ervice 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 posted as Executive Officer (2nd in command) of the patrol boat HMAS "Ardent", then joined HMAS "Vendetta", before he assumed command of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force patrol boat "Samarai"

He then served as Divisional Officer at the RAN College in 1976, and then in HMAS "Perth" prior to Principal Warfare Officer training in the UK in 1978. He returned as Operations and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Officer aboard 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 anti-submarine warfare. He joined HMAS "Hobart" 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" 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 cite web|url=http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=967290&search_type=quick&showInd=true |title=Conspicuous Service Cross - Russell Shalders |accessdate=2008-06-08 |work=It's an Honour |publisher=Australian Government ] 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. cite web|url=http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1042142&search_type=quick&showInd=true |title=AO - Russel Shalders |accessdate=2008-06-08 |work=It's an Honour |publisher=Australian Government ]

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. He retired from this position, and the Navy, on 4 July 2008.

Personal

In his spare time, Vice Admiral Shalders enjoys golf, jogging and gardening.

Richard Shalders

Russ Shalders' brother, Commodore Richard Shalders CSC ADC [By virtue of his position as the senior military officer in Western Australia, CDRE Richard Shalders was also the Aide-de-camp to the Governor of WA. With his retirement he will no longer be entitled to use that post-nominal] RAN, was Commander Australian Navy Submarine Group (CANSG) [ [http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2008/apr/20080408a/20080408ran8109430_053184_lo.jpgHMAS Rankin awarded Gloucester Cup] L-R: RADM Coates, MAJGEN Jeffery (Rtd), CMDR Stanford, CDRE Richard Shalders, 8 April 2008 ( [http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2008/apr/20080408a/20080408ran8109430_053184.jpgHi res] ) ( [http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2008/apr/20080408a/index.htm source] ) ( [http://www.defence.gov.au/copyright.cfm copyright] )] [cite news |title=A Few Words About 'the Silent Service' |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Sea_Talk_2006-autumn.pdf |format=PDF |work=Sea Talk (Winter 2006) |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |pages=22-25 |date=Winter 2006 |accessdate=2008-09-07] until his retirement in July 2008.

Awards

References and notes

External links

* [http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/Hilltpl.cfm?CurrentId=4883 Media release of appointment as Chief of Navy]
* [http://www.defence.gov.au/leaders/images/chief_navy/20061127adf8054893_015_lo.jpgOfficial portrait] ( [http://www.defence.gov.au/copyright.cfm copyright] )