Russ Shalders
Encyclopedia
Vice Admiral
Russell Edward Shalders, AO, CSC
, RAN
(born 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.
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 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 appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours list of 2003.
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.
Russ Shalders' brother, Commodore Richard Shalders CSC ADC RAN, was Commander Australian Navy Submarine Group (CANSG) until his retirement in July 2008.
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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...
Russell Edward Shalders, 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
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...
(born 8 September 1951) is a retired admiral 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...
. He served as Vice Chief of the Australian Defence Force
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
from 2002 to 2005, and as 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 2005 to 2008.
Service history
Shalders joined the Royal Australian Naval 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:...
from Victoria in 1967. After sea training he undertook Operations and Weapons courses 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 returning to Australia, he was posted as Executive Officer (2nd in command) of the patrol boat HMAS Ardent
HMAS Ardent (P 84)
HMAS Ardent was an Attack class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy .-Design and construction:The Attack class was ordered in 1964 to operate in Australian waters as patrol boats HMAS Ardent (P 87/A243) was an Attack class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).-Design and...
, then joined HMAS Vendetta
HMAS Vendetta (D08)
HMAS Vendetta was one of three Daring class destroyers built for and operated by the Royal Australian Navy . The destroyer was built by Williamstown Naval Dockyard and entered service in 1958. During her early career, Vendetta was deployed to the Far East Strategic Reserve on multiple occasions...
, before he assumed command of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force patrol boat Samarai
HMAS Samarai (P 85)
HMAS Samarai , named after the island of Samarai and its former town, was an Attack class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy . Completed in 1968, the vessel was one of five assigned to the RAN's Papua New Guinea Division. The patrol boat was transferred to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force...
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
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
(ASW) Officer aboard HMAS Vendetta, then was an officer's posting officer in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
.
After promotion to lieutenant commander in 1981, he completed the Naval Staff Course for International Officers at the Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
, Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
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
HMAS Sydney (FFG 03)
HMAS Sydney is an Adelaide class guided missile frigate of the Royal Australian Navy . The frigate one of six modified s ordered from 1977 onwards, and the third of four to be constructed in the United States of America...
and was then appointed as Commander, Sea Training.
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...
, and was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross 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
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 London in 1995.
On promotion 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...
, 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
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"...
in July 1999, he was seconded to the Australian Customs Service
Australian Customs Service
The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service is the Australian Federal Government agency responsible for managing the security and integrity of the Australian border, facilitating the movement of legitimate international travellers and goods, and collecting border-related duties and...
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
Vice Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)
The Vice Chief of the Defence Force is the military deputy to the Chief of the Defence Force of Australia, and acts as the CDF in his absence under standing acting arrangements....
in July 2002. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours list of 2003.
On 23 May 2005, the Minister for Defence
Minister for Defence (Australia)
The Minister for Defence of Australia administers his portfolio through the Australian Defence Organisation, which comprises the Department of Defence and the Australian Defence Force. Stephen Smith is the current Minister.-Ministers for Defence:...
announced that Shalders would succeed VADM Chris Ritchie
Chris Ritchie
Vice Admiral Christopher Angus Ritchie AO 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...
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.Russ Shalders' brother, Commodore Richard Shalders CSC ADC RAN, was Commander Australian Navy Submarine Group (CANSG) until his retirement in July 2008.
Awards
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Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) | 26 January 2003 |
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Conspicuous Service Cross 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... (CSC) |
4 November 1991 |
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Australian Active Service Medal 1945-1975 Australian Active Service Medal 1945-1975 The Australian Active Service Medal 1945–1975 recognises the service of Australian Defence Force and certain other persons in prescribed warlike operations in the period after World War II, and prior to February 1975... |
with VIETNAM clasp |
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Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal The Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal was issued to recognise the service of Australian support personnel during the Vietnam War.-Qualification requirements:The qualifying criteria for the medal include:... |
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Australian Service Medal 1945-1975 Australian Service Medal 1945-1975 The Australian Service Medal 1945–1975 recognises service in peacekeeping or non-warlike operations in the 30-year period following World War II, and prior to February 1975. The medal was established on 22 February 1995... |
with FESR and PNG clasps |
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Australian Service Medal Australian Service Medal The Australian Service Medal is an Australian military decoration. It was authorized 13 September 1988 to recognise prescribed service in peacekeeping and non-warlike operations. It is awarded with a clasp to denote the prescribed operation and subsequent awards of the medal are made in the form of... |
with KUWAIT clasp |
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Centenary Medal Centenary Medal The Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the Centenary of Federation of Australia and to honour people who have made a contribution to Australian society or government... |
1 January 2001 |
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Defence Force Service Medal Defence Force Service Medal The Defence Force Service Medal is an Australian Military award given for long service by permanent members of the Australian Defence Force... with Federation Star |
(40–44 years service) |
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National Medal National Medal National Medal can refer to:* National Medal * National Medal of Arts* National Humanities Medal* National Medal of Science* National Medal of Technology and Innovation... |
9 March 1991 |
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Australian Defence Medal Australian Defence Medal The Australian Defence Medal is an Australian military decoration which recognises current and former Australian Defence Force personnel who completed an initial enlistment period, or four years service... |
