Navy boss named next defence force chief
The head of Australia’s navy has been chosen as the next chief of the country’s armed forces.
Vice-Admiral Mark Hammond was appointed chief of the Australian Defense Force by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday.
He will take over from David Johnston, who has served since July 2024.
“Vice Admiral Hammond has had a distinguished career in the Royal Australian Navy spanning 40 years,” Mr Albanese told reporters in Canberra.
“Vice Admiral Hammond will continue to bring valuable insight to the role of chief of the Defense Force.”
Vice Admiral Hammond joined the navy as an electronics technician in 1986 and became a naval officer two years later.
During his nearly four decades in the military, he served on Collins-class submarines, commanded HMAS Farncomb throughout the Indo-Pacific, and was posted as deputy naval attaché in Washington, D.C.
He also served as chief of staff to former defense chief David Hurley in 2012.
Vice Admiral Hammond took charge of the navy in July 2022 and has overseen work on the multi-billion-dollar AUKUS nuclear submarine deal, one of Australia’s largest defense projects.
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