Chris Ritchie
Encyclopedia
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.
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
. 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. In 1997 he was promoted to Rear Admiral and appointed as Maritime Commander Australia (MCAUST). He then served as Deputy Chief of Navy (DCN) and Head of Capability Systems (HCS).
As a consequence of his service in these appointments, and in addition to receiving the Centenary medal, he was promoted to Officer in the Military Division of the Order of Australia (AO) in January 2001. 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.
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...
Christopher Angus (Chris) Ritchie AO
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 16 January 1949) is a retired 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...
of 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...
, and was Chief of Navy
Chief of Navy (Australia)
The Chief of Navy is the most senior appointment in the Royal Australian Navy, responsible to the Chief of the Defence Force and the Secretary of Defence...
from 2002 to 2005.
Service history
Ritchie graduated from the RAN College at Jervis BayJervis Bay
Jervis Bay is a large bay bounded by the state of New South Wales, the Jervis Bay Territory, and a detached enclave of the Australian Capital Territory. HMAS Creswell is located between Jervis Bay Village and Greenpatch in the Jervis Bay Territory.-History:...
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
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
where she participated for the duration of the Persian Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. In 1991, as a result of this service, he was appointed a Member in the Military Division of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(AM).
In 1992 he attended the Royal College of Defence Studies
Royal College of Defence Studies
The Royal College of Defence Studies is an internationally-renowned institution and component of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. On completion of this course he was promoted to Commodore
Commodore (rank)
Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
and had appointments in Naval Policy and Warfare, and Military Strategy and Concepts. In 1997 he was promoted to Rear Admiral and appointed as Maritime Commander Australia (MCAUST). He then served as Deputy Chief of Navy (DCN) and Head of Capability Systems (HCS).
As a consequence of his service in these appointments, and in addition to receiving the Centenary medal, he was promoted to Officer in the Military Division of the Order of Australia (AO) in January 2001. He was promoted to 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...
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.
External links
- Copyright photo of VADM Chris Ritchie, Chief of Navy, ANZAC Day 2005.
