ANCORS Fellow

Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie AO, RANR
Visiting Professorial Fellow

Chris Ritchie joined the Royal Australian Navy as a 16 year old Cadet Midshipman in January 1965 and retired as the Chief of Navy more than 40 years later in July 2005. In the course of his career, he qualified as a Principal Warfare Officer and ASW specialist and commanded three ships including HMAS Brisbane during the Gulf War of 1991. He held appointments at flag rank as Maritime Commander, Head of Capability Systems, Deputy Chief of Navy and Commander Australian Theatre. In this latter position he simultaneously commanded Australian Forces committed to the Middle East after the terrorist attacks in the USA in September 2001 and also those forces committed to the prevention of illegal immigration into Australia in the latter part of 2001. He became the Chief of Navy in July 2002.

Since leaving the Navy, Vice Admiral Ritchie has maintained an interest and involvement in Defence issues and has promoted a greater awareness of Australian maritime history and the need for a robust Australian defence industry. He served as Chairman of the Air Warfare Destroyer Alliance Council in 2006/2007, was a member of the Proust Review of Defence Management in 2006/2007, and was Chairman of the National Commemorative Council of Australia on the Map 1606-2006. He is currently Chair of the Australian Defence College Advisory Board, a director of ASC Pty Ltd and Maritime Australia Limited and patron of the Naval Warfare Officer's Association and the Australasian Hydrographic Society.