Former Navy Chief Joins Austal

The former Chief of the Royal Australian Navy, Vice Admiral (Rtd) David Shackleton AO, has joined Australian shipbuilder Austal as an advisor. Austal Executive Chairman Mr John Rothwell AO said Vice Admiral Shackleton will provide general strategic advice to Austal on Australian and international naval and defence industry opportunities including those expected to arise from the Australian Government’s recently announced A$10 billion naval shipbuilding program. “Vice Admiral Shackleton’s extensive knowledge and experience and contacts in relation to the Australian and foreign navies will significantly help Austal’s strategy to build on our defense shipbuilding success to date,” Mr Rothwell said. Vice Admiral Shackleton was Chief of Navy from July 1999 to July 2002. His distinguished career included extensive sea experience as commanding officer of the destroyer escort HMAS “Derwent” and the destroyer HMAS “Brisbane”. He also held senior positions with responsibilities for development of Navy and defence policy; Australian Defence Force operational capability requirements; project management and procurement of complex command, control and intelligence information systems, and the education and training of officers in advanced staff development programs. Mr Rothwell said Vice Admiral Shackleton was instrumental in shaping the Navy’s future combat capabilities during his tenure, and was particularly successful in promoting and achieving a broader and deeper strategic partnership between the United States Navy and the Royal Australian Navy. “He regarded the international aspects of the Navy as especially important and built up strong personal relationships with leaders of other navies including those of the US, UK, France, Turkey, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, South Africa, Japan and New Zealand,” Mr Rothwell said. “These contacts will be an important asset in pursuing international opportunities for patrol boats and other naval vessels.”