Donald Chalmers

Vice Admiral Donald Bruce Chalmers, AO (born 29 April 1942) is a retired senior commander of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), who served as Chief of Navy from 1997 to 1999.

Donald Bruce Chalmers
Born (1942-04-29) 29 April 1942
Young, New South Wales
AllegianceAustralia
Service/branchRoyal Australian Navy
Years of service1958–1999
RankVice Admiral
Commands heldChief of Navy (1997–99)
Maritime Commander Australia (1993–95)
Royal Australian Navy Task Group, Gulf War (1990)
HMAS Perth (1981–83)
Battles/warsIndonesia–Malaysia confrontation
Gulf War
AwardsOfficer of the Order of Australia
Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States)
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Thailand

Early life

Chalmers was born on 29 April 1942 in Young, New South Wales, to Donald Lisle Chalmers and Constance (née Eagles).[1]

Career

Chalmers joined the RAN in 1958 and chose to specialise in navigation.[2] He served in HMAS Yarra and HMAS Parramatta during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation in the mid-1960s and went on to command HMAS Perth from 1981 to 1983.[1][2] He was awarded the National Medal in 1977.[3] In 1988, he attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in the United Kingdom.[2] He was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1992 in recognition of his services as Commander of the first Royal Australian Navy Task Group during the Gulf War.[4] He was appointed Maritime Commander Australia in December 1993, Assistant Chief of Defence Force responsible for Australian Defence Force development and international defence relationships in April 1995, and finally Chief of Navy in July 1997.[2] He was awarded the Legion of Merit by the United States Government in 1998 and retired in July 1999.[2]

Notes
  1. Singh 2010
  2. Defence Honours Tribunal
  3. It's an honour – National Medal
  4. It's an honour – Order of Australia

References
  • Singh, Shivani (2010). Who's Who in Australia 2010. Melbourne, Australia: Crown Content. ISBN 1-74095-172-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Military offices
Preceded by
Vice Admiral Rodney Taylor		 Chief of Navy
1997–1999		 Succeeded by
Vice Admiral David Shackleton
Preceded by
Rear Admiral Robert Walls		 Maritime Commander Australia
1993–1995		 Succeeded by
Rear Admiral Chris Oxenbould
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