Matt Tripovich

Vice Admiral Matthew John Tripovich AO, CSC, RAN
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Royal Australian Navy
Years of service	1974 – 2010
Rank	Vice Admiral
Commands held	Chief, Capability Development Group HMAS Anzac HMAS Canberra
Battles/wars	Gulf War East Timor
Awards	Officer of the Order of Australia Conspicuous Service Cross

Vice Admiral Matthew John Tripovich AO, CSC, RAN is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Navy. He served as Chief of the Australian Department of Defence's Capability Development Group from 2007 until his retirement in October 2010.

Military career

Matt Tripovich joined the Royal Australian Naval College in January 1974. As a junior officer he served in HMA Ships Duchess, Melbourne, Diamantina, Vendetta, Assail, Torrens and Hobart.

He completed the Royal Navy's Principal Warfare Officer's Course in 1984 and, specialising in anti-air warfare, returned to Australia to serve as the Direction Officer in HMAS Sydney.

In January 1986 he joined the Directorate of Naval User Requirements in Navy Headquarters Australia and was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in July 1986. He returned to sea in May 1987 as the Direction Officer, Senior Warfare Officer and Operations Officer in HMAS Brisbane. He was appointed as the Fleet Direction Officer on the staff of the Maritime Commander Australia in December 1988.

On promotion to Commander in May 1990, he rejoined HMAS Brisbane as Executive Officer and saw active service during hostilities in the 1990-91 Persian Gulf war.

He headed the Navy's Nulka Active Missile Decoy program during 1992-93 and attended the Joint Services Staff College in the first half of 1994. He commanded HMAS Canberra from September 1994 to May 1996, and then was Staff Officer to the Chief of the Defence Force until August 1997.

On promotion to Captain, he became the Director of Maritime Combat Development at Australian Defence Force Headquarters (ADFHQ) in Canberra. Returning to sea in July 1999, he assumed command of HMAS Anzac and again saw active service in operations off East Timor later that year.

Promoted to Commodore in April 2001, he was appointed Director General Naval Capability, Performance and Plans in Navy Headquarters. He rejoined the Fleet as Commodore Flotillas in June 2002 and led the Australian Fleet Sea Training Group, which was awarded a Chief of Defence Force Commendation for its collective contribution to the preparation of forces for a wide range of real world operations during his tenure. As Commodore Flotillas he also commanded the Deployable Joint Force Headquarters (Maritime), which provided deployed command staff for most of the major exercises and real world operations in which the RAN was involved, including operations in the Middle East and the Solomon Islands.

In February 2004, he moved ashore and became Director General Navy Personnel and Training at Navy Headquarters. He was promoted to Rear Admiral on 1 July 2005 and became Head of Capability Systems in Australian Defence Headquarters.

On 28 September 2007, he was promoted to Vice Admiral and appointed Chief, Capability Development Group. He relinquished this post in October 2010 on retirement from the ADF.^[1]

Tripovich was awarded a Chief of Navy’s Commendation in 1988, and the Conspicuous Service Cross for his service in Brisbane during the 1990-91 Gulf War.

In June 2005 he was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for exceptional service to the Royal Australian Navy in the three appointments that he held as a Commodore.

Personal

Tripovich has a Graduate Diploma in Strategic Studies, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD), is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program and a member of the Harvard Business School Alumni.

He and his wife Faye have two children, Daniel and Kate. He rides a Harley Davidson and he is an enthusiastic fly fisherman.^[2]

Honours and awards

	Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)	14 June 2010[3]
	Member of the Order of Australia (AM)	13 June 2005[4]
	Conspicuous Service Cross
	Australian Active Service Medal
	Australian Service Medal
	Defence Force Service Medal	35–39 years service
	Australian Defence Medal
	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
	Meritorious Unit Citation	Awarded to HMAS Brisbane, 4 November 1991[5]

References

1. ^ "Air Marshal John Harvey, Chief Capability Development Group". Defence Leaders. Department of Defence. http://www.defence.gov.au/leaders/other/johnHarvey/index.htm. Retrieved 14 October 2010. 
2. ^ Official ADF Bio
3. ^ http://www.gg.gov.au/res/File/PDFs/honours/qb10/Media%20Notes%20AO(Mil)%20(final).pdf
   http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1142623&search_type=simple&showInd=true
   For distinguished service as Head Capability Systems and Chief Capability Development Group.
4. ^ It's an Honour, Member of the Order of Australia, Matthew John Tripovich, 13 June 2005, retrieved 18 April 2008.
   Citation: For exceptional service to the Royal Australian Navy as Director General Navy Capability, Performance and Plans, Commodore Flotillas and Director General Navy Personnel and Training.
5. ^ It's an Honour, Meritorious Unit Citation, HMAS Brisbane, 4 November 1991, retrieved 18 April 2008.
   Citation: For meritorious operational service in the Persian Gulf during enforcement of sanctions in support of United Nations Security Council Resolutions and the subsequent period of hostilities against Iraq to liberate Kuwait in 1990-91.

External links

• Official photo (copyright)

Military offices
Preceded by Lieutenant General David Hurley	Chief Capability Development Group 2007 – 2010	Succeeded by Air Marshal John Harvey
Preceded by ?	Head of Capability Systems 2005 – 2007	Succeeded by Air Vice Marshal John Quaife

Persondata
Name	Tripovich, Matt
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