Patron of the RAN Writers Association
COMMODORE ROBERT WAYNE RICHARDS, RAN
Head of Navy Supply Community

Commodore Bob Richards joined the Navy as a junior recruit in January 1973 and was selected as an Officer Candidate during his early days at HMAS LEEUWIN. After completing his training at the Royal Australian Naval College and HMAS CERBERUS, Commodore Richards enjoyed Supply Branch and non specialist postings to a number of HMA ships and establishments including STALWART, PENGUIN, HARMAN, STIRLING, MORESBY, CERBERUS, as well as Navy Headquarters.

On promotion to Commander he spent four years as the Head of the Supply and Health Faculty at CERBERUS, where he was involved in redeveloping the Supply Officer Training Continuum, as well as a number of Tri-Service training rationalisation projects. He posted to HMAS SUCCESS as Supply Officer in September 1998 where he participated in a number of operational deployments and saw active service in East Timor. During Operation STABILISE, he was awarded a Commendation for Distinguished Service in recognition of his role as Task Group Logistic Coordinator of coalition maritime units.

On promotion to Captain, he spent 12 months at Australian Defence Headquarters in Canberra as the Director of Current Capability Guidance, working on longer-term capability issues, including refining the Defence Capability Plan introduced with the 2001 Defence White Paper. Commodore Richards then enjoyed postings as the Chief Staff Officer (Support) at Maritime Headquarters in Sydney and Director Plans at Headquarters Joint Logistics Command in Melbourne. In these postings he was very active in planning and managing the logistic arrangements for ADF units deployed on operations overseas including Bougainvillea, Afghanistan, Iraq and the Solomon Islands. In October 2003, Commodore Richards assumed command of the Navy’s premier training establishment HMAS CERBERUS and Training Authority Logistics, responsible for national training outcomes for Engineering, Supply and Medical trades. He assumed his current responsibilities as Chief of Staff Australian Navy Systems Command and Deputy Systems Commander on 30 January 2006.  He was promoted to Commodore late last year posting to his current position as Director General Logistics Assurance and Head of the Supply Community May 2007.

1ST Patron 2006-2007 Commodore Boyd C. Robinson AM, RAN
FCPA,FAICD,MAIPM

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