Summary
Rear Admiral Jonathan Paul Earley, CSC is a senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). He joined the RAN as a maritime warfare officer in January 1990, and has commanded HMAS Ballarat (2011–12) and HMAS Adelaide (2017–18). He served as Commander Australian Fleet from June to December 2022, before taking over as the Deputy Chief of Navy on 16 December 2022.[1]
Jonathan Earley | |
|---|---|
| Born | Perth, Western Australia |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service/ | Royal Australian Navy |
| Years of service | 1990–present |
| Rank | Rear Admiral |
| Commands held | Deputy Chief of Navy (2022–) Fleet Command (2022–22) HMAS Adelaide (2017–18) HMAS Ballarat (2011–12) |
| Battles/wars | War in Afghanistan Iraq War |
| Awards | Conspicuous Service Cross Commendation for Distinguished Service |
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Earley joined the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) as a midshipman Maritime Warfare Officer in 1990. Following his initial training at the Australian Defence Force Academy and HMAS Creswell, he completed his employment and warfare training at HMAS Watson and trained on RAN and Royal Canadian Navy Warships respectively, before specialising as an Air Warfare Officer.[1]
In 2005 Earley was appointed executive officer of HMAS Ballarat. Several shore postings followed, before he was appointed commanding officer of HMAS Ballarat in 2011. He served as the inaugural executive officer of HMAS Canberra from 2013, after which he moved to Canberra as Director of Maritime Operations. In 2017 he returned to sea on being appointed as commanding officer of HMAS Adelaide. From 2018 to 2021 Earley served in various staff roles at the operational and strategic levels.[1]
In 2021, Earley was posted to Fleet Command and assumed the role of Deputy Fleet Commander. In June 2022, he was appointed Commander Australian Fleet. Six months later, on 16 December, Earley swapped positions with Rear Admiral Christopher Smith and was appointed Deputy Chief of Navy.[1]