Christopher Smith (admiral)

Rear Admiral Christopher Erson Smith, AM, CSM is a senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy. He has commanded the ships HMAS Gladstone (2002–04), HMAS Darwin (2008–10) and the flagship HMAS Canberra (2015–17), and served as Deputy Chief of Navy from September 2020 to December 2022. He was appointed Commander Australian Fleet on 16 December 2022.^[1]

Christopher Smith
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Royal Australian Navy
Years of service	1989–present
Rank	Rear Admiral
Commands held	Fleet Command (2022–) Deputy Chief of Navy (2020–22) Surface Force (2017–19) HMAS Canberra (2015–17) HMAS Darwin (2008–10) HMAS Gladstone (2002–04)
Battles/wars	Operation Helpem Fren Iraq War
Awards	Member of the Order of Australia Conspicuous Service Medal

Naval career

Smith joined the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in 1989 as a midshipman at the Royal Australian Naval College, HMAS Creswell.^[2] He was awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal in the 2002 Australia Day Honours,^[3] and appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2023 Australia Day Honours.^[4]

.

Honours and awards

Source:^[5]

       

       

	Member of the Order of Australia Military Division (AM)	As a part of the 2023 Australia Day Honours, Smith was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.^[4]
	Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM)	As a part of the 2002 Australia Day Honours, Smith was awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal.^[3]
	Australian Active Service Medal
	Iraq Medal
	Australian Service Medal
	Australian Operational Service Medal - Border Protection
	Defence Long Service Medal	With 3 rosettes for 30 years service.
	Australian Defence Medal

References

1. "Chris Smith". auto-biographical. Linkedin. 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
2. "Rear Admiral Christopher Smith". Royal Australian Navy. Australian Government. 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
3. "Australia Day 2002 Honours". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 26 January 2002. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
4. "Member (AM) in the Military Division of the Order of Australia" (PDF). Australia Day 2023 Honours List. Office of the Governor-General of Australia. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
5. "Official Portrait of Rear Admiral Christopher Smith".

Military offices
Preceded by Rear Admiral Jonathan Earley	Commander Australian Fleet 2022–present	Incumbent
Preceded by Rear Admiral Mark Hammond	Deputy Chief of Navy 2020–2022	Succeeded by Rear Admiral Jonathan Earley