The Chief of Navy is the most senior appointment in the Royal Australian Navy

Royal Australian Navy

The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...

, responsible to the Chief of the Defence Force

Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)

Chief of the Defence Force is the most senior appointment in the Australian Defence Force . The CDF commands the ADF under the direction of the Minister of Defence, in a coequal arrangement with the Secretary of Defence, the most senior public servant in the Department of Defence.The position is a...

 (CDF) and the Secretary of Defence

Department of Defence (Australia)

The Australian Department of Defence is a Federal Government Department. It forms part of the Australian Defence Organisation along with the Australian Defence Force . The Defence mission is to defend Australia and its national interests...

. The rank associated with the position is Vice Admiral

Vice Admiral (Australia)

Vice admiral is the second-highest active rank of the Royal Australian Navy and was created as a direct equivalent of the British rank of vice admiral. It is a three-star rank...

 (3-star).

Vice Admiral Ray Griggs

Ray Griggs (admiral)

Vice Admiral Raymond James "Ray" Griggs AM, CSC, RAN is a senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy and has been the Chief of Navy since 7 June 2011.-Early career:...

 is the current Chief of Navy and assumed this position in June 2011.

Appointees

The following list chronologically records those who have held the post of Chief of Navy or its preceding positions. Rank and honours are as at the completion of the individual's tours.

Rank and pre-nominal	Name	post- nominal(s)	Service	Term began	Term ended
Director, Commonwealth Naval Forces
Rear Admiral Sir		KCMG, KBE	RAN Royal Australian Navy The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
First Naval Member, Australian Commonwealth Naval Board Australian Commonwealth Naval Board The Australian Commonwealth Naval Board was the governing authority over the Royal Australian Navy from its inception and through World Wars I and II. The board was established on 1 March 1911 and consisted of civilian members of the Australian government as well as naval flag officers....
Rear Admiral Sir Sir Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...		KCMG, KBE	RAN
Rear Admiral Rear Admiral Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...  Sir		KCVO, CB	RN Royal Navy The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
Vice Admiral Vice Admiral Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...  Sir		KCMG, KCVO, CB	RN
Rear Admiral		CB, CMG	RN
Rear Admiral		CB, CMG, DSO	RN
Vice Admiral Sir		KBE, CB	RN
Admiral Admiral (Australia) Admiral is the highest active rank of the Royal Australian Navy and was created as a direct equivalent of the British Navy rank of Admiral. It is a four-star rank. Since World War II, in general, the only time the rank is held is when the Chief of the Defence Force is a Navy officer.Admiral is a...  Sir		KCB, CVO, CBE	RN/RAN
Admiral Sir		KBE, CB	RN
Admiral Sir		KCB, CMG, DSO	RN
Admiral Sir		KCB, DSO	RN/RAN
Vice Admiral Vice Admiral (Australia) Vice admiral is the second-highest active rank of the Royal Australian Navy and was created as a direct equivalent of the British rank of vice admiral. It is a three-star rank...  Sir		KBE, CB	RAN
Vice Admiral Sir		KBE, CB, DSO	RAN
Vice Admiral Sir		KBE, CB	RAN
Vice Admiral Sir		KBE, CB, DSO	RAN
Vice Admiral Sir		KBE, CB, GM George Medal The George Medal is the second level civil decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.The GM was instituted on 24 September 1940 by King George VI. At this time, during the height of The Blitz, there was a strong desire to reward the many acts of civilian courage...	RAN
Vice Admiral Sir		KBE, CB, DSC Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...	RAN
Vice Admiral Sir		KBE, CB, DSC	RAN
Vice Admiral Sir		AC, KBE	RAN
Chief of the Naval Staff
Vice Admiral Sir		KBE, AO	RAN
Vice Admiral Sir		KBE, AO	RAN
Vice Admiral		AC, CBE, LVO	RAN
Admiral		AC	RAN
Vice Admiral		AC	RAN
Vice Admiral		AO	RAN
Chief of Navy
Vice Admiral		AO	RAN
Vice Admiral		AO	RAN
Vice Admiral		AO	RAN
Vice Admiral		AO	RAN
Vice Admiral		AO, CSC Conspicuous Service Cross (Australia) The Conspicuous Service Cross is a decoration of the Australian Honours System. The CSC is awarded only for outstanding devotion to duty, or outstanding achievement in the application of exceptional skills, judgment or dedication, in non-warlike situations...	RAN
Vice Admiral		AO, CSM Conspicuous Service Medal The Conspicuous Service Medal is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force, it is awarded for meritorious achievement or dedication to duty in non-war like situations. The CSM was introduced in 1989 and is a distinct Australian military award. It is the second...	RAN
Vice Admiral		AM, CSC	RAN		Incumbent