Jonathan Mead

Last updated

Jonathan Mead
Vice Admiral Jonathan Mead speaks during a United States Naval Nuclear Power School graduation in July 2023.jpg
Vice Admiral Jonathan Mead in 2023
Born (1964-11-03) 3 November 1964 (age 59)
Melbourne, Victoria
AllegianceAustralia
Service/branch Royal Australian Navy
Years of service1984–present
Rank Vice Admiral
Commands held Australian Submarine Agency (2023–)
Nuclear-Powered Submarine Task Force (2021–23)
Chief of Joint Capabilities (2020–21)
Fleet Command (2018–20)
Head of Navy Capability (2015–17)
Combined Task Force 150 (2011–12)
HMAS Parramatta (2005–07)
Battles/wars Iraq War
War in Afghanistan
Awards Officer of the Order of Australia
Commendation for Distinguished Service
Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States)

Vice Admiral Jonathan Dallas Mead, AO (born 3 November 1964) is a senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy. He joined the navy via the Royal Australian Naval College at HMAS Creswell in 1984, and spent his early career with the Clearance Diving Branch before training as a Principal Warfare Officer. He captained HMAS Parramatta on operations in the Persian Gulf from 2006 to 2007 during the Iraq War and commanded Combined Task Force 150, overseeing maritime counter-terrorism operations around the Arabian Peninsula and Horn of Africa, from 2011 to 2012. He served as Head of Navy Capability from 2015 to 2017, Commander Australian Fleet from 2018 to 2020, Chief of Joint Capabilities from 2020 to 2021, and was appointed Chief of the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Task Force in September 2021.

Contents

Early life

Jonathan Dallas Mead was born in Melbourne, Victoria, on 3 November 1964 to Dallas Charles Cardiff Mead and Joan Mary Reidy. [1] His father had served in the Royal Australian Air Force during the Second World War, rising to the rank of flight sergeant, while a grandfather had fought on the Western Front with the Australian Imperial Force in the First World War. [2] [3]

Mead was educated at St Bede's College, a Catholic secondary school in the inner Melbourne suburb of Mentone. He was an active sportsman who particularly excelled at water sports. As a youth he would explore the wreck of HMAS Cerberus, a breastwork monitor sunk as a breakwater off Half Moon Bay in Port Phillip. [2]

Mead was commissioned a midshipman and entered the Royal Australian Naval College at HMAS Creswell for junior officer training on 16 January 1984. [4] [5] He was classmates with fellow future admirals Stuart Mayer, Michael Noonan, and Greg Sammut. [5] Mead graduated from the college as a sub-lieutenant and with a Diploma of Applied Science in 1986 and undertook further training in bridge watchkeeping and clearance diving, specialising in Mine Warfare and Explosive Ordnance Disposal. [2] [4] Mead later described his service with the Clearance Diving Branch, culminating with his appointment as executive officer of Clearance Diving Team One, as "some of the happiest days of my career." [2]

Seeking to enhance his future career prospects, Mead trained as a Principal Warfare Officer specialising in Anti-Submarine Warfare. He also read for a Master of Arts in International Relations at Deakin University and, later, a Master of Management at the University of Canberra. A series of seagoing appointments followed, including as Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer aboard HMAS Melbourne and in HMAS Arunta, and as Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer. Mead next returned to HMAS Arunta as executive officer. [1] [2] [4] During his time in the ship, Arunta deployed as part of Operation Relex to turn back vessels suspected of unauthorised entry to northern Australian waters. [2]

Mead submitted the thesis for his Doctor of Philosophy, titled "The Australia–Indonesia Security Relationship", to the School of International and Political Studies at Deakin University in 2004. [2] [6] The following year, by now a commander, he was appointed commanding officer of the Anzac-class frigate HMAS Parramatta. The frigate deployed to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Catalyst, Australia's contribution to the Iraq War, in October 2005. [2] [4] During the six-month deployment, Parramatta's crew carried out 186 vessel boardings and security patrols and were involved in training other coalition and Iraqi warships. [7] Parramatta returned to Sydney in April 2006. Mead and his crew were subsequently recognised with a Meritorious Unit Citation for Parramatta's "meritorious operational service" in the Persian Gulf, [8] while Mead was additionally honoured with appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2007 Australia Day Honours for his "exceptional service in warlike operations". [9]

Mead (standing, right) shaking hands with Rear Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh during exercise AUSINDEX-15 in September 2015. Rear Admiral Jonathan Mead and Rear Admiral AB Singh during AUSINDEX 2015.JPG
Mead (standing, right) shaking hands with Rear Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh during exercise AUSINDEX-15 in September 2015.

In 2007, Mead completed a course of study at India's National Defence College in New Delhi and, now a captain, was appointed Australia's Defence Advisor to India, Sri Lanka and South Africa. [1] [2] [4] During this time Mead authored Indian National Security: Misguided Men and Guided Missiles, published with KW Publishers in 2010. [4] [10] Following promotion to commodore in July 2011, he deployed to the Middle East from October as commander Combined Task Force 150. [4] Based in Bahrain, Mead's multinational naval task force was responsible for maritime counter-terrorism operations around the Arabian Peninsula and Horn of Africa. [11] He returned to Australia in April 2012 as Commander Surface Force in Fleet Headquarters. [2] [4] [12] For his "distinguished performance" as a "highly effective commander" in the Middle East, Mead was awarded a Commendation for Distinguished Service in the 2013 Queen's Birthday Honours. [12]

Promoted to rear admiral, Mead was appointed Head of Navy Capability in January 2015. [4] In this role he was responsible for the development of present and future capability within the Royal Australian Navy, which included overseeing the lifecycle of projects and programs from initial concept through to disposal. [13] After three years managing capability, Mead succeeded Rear Admiral Stuart Mayer as Commander Australian Fleet on 19 January 2018. [4] In the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours, Mead was advanced to Officer of the Order of Australia in recognition of his "distinguished service to the Royal Australian Navy in senior management and command roles." [14] Mead handed over command of the Australian Fleet to Rear Admiral Mark Hammond on 17 November 2020. [15]

Mead was promoted vice admiral and appointed Chief of Joint Capabilities in November 2020. [4] He handed over Joint Capabilities to Lieutenant General John Frewen in September 2021 and was subsequently appointed Chief of the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Task Force, responsible for overseeing Australia's acquisition of submarines with nuclear propulsion. [16] [17] On 1 July 2023 the task force was replaced by the Australian Submarine Agency and Mead was appointed the inaugural director-general. [18]

On 8 February 2024, Mead was appointed a Commander of the Legion of Merit, it was awarded for “service as the Chief of the Royal Australian Navy Nuclear Powered Submarine Task Force and his leadership role in the AUKUS trilateral security partnership.” [19]


Personal life

Mead has been married to Frances since 23 May 1992. The couple have two sons. [1] Mead is a board member of the Australian National Maritime Museum and the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme. [20] [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Australian Navy</span> Naval warfare branch of the Australian Defence Force

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the naval force of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The professional head of the RAN is Chief of Navy (CN) Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AM, RAN. CN is also jointly responsible to the Minister of Defence (MINDEF) and the Chief of Defence Force (CDF). The Department of Defence as part of the Australian Public Service administers the ADF. In 2023, the Surface Fleet Review was introduced to outline the future of the Navy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Fleet Forces Command</span> Service component command of the United States Navy

The United States Fleet Forces Command (USFFC) is a service component command of the United States Navy that provides naval forces to a wide variety of U.S. forces. The naval resources may be allocated to Combatant Commanders such as United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) under the authority of the Secretary of Defense. Originally formed as United States Atlantic Fleet (USLANTFLT) in 1906, it has been an integral part of the defense of the United States of America since the early 20th century. In 2002, the Fleet comprised over 118,000 Navy and Marine Corps personnel serving on 186 ships and in 1,300 aircraft, with an area of responsibility ranging over most of the Atlantic Ocean from the North Pole to the South Pole, the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and the waters of the Pacific Ocean along the coasts of Central and South America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russ Shalders</span> Admiral of the Royal Australian Navy

Vice Admiral Russell Edward Shalders, is a retired admiral of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). He served as Vice Chief of the Australian Defence Force from 2002 to 2005, and as Chief of Navy from 2005 to 2008.

Rear Admiral James Vincent Purcell Goldrick, was an Australian naval historian, analyst of contemporary naval and maritime affairs, and a senior officer of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Following his retirement from the RAN, Goldrick was a fellow at the Sea Power Centre – Australia and an adjunct professor in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences in the University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy. He was also a member of the Naval Studies Group at the Australian Centre for the Study of Armed Conflict and Society, an adjunct professor in the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre of the Australian National University and a professorial fellow of the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security at the University of Wollongong. He was a visiting fellow at All Souls College, University of Oxford in the first half of 2015, and a non-resident Fellow of the Lowy Institute from 2013 to 2018.

Vice Admiral Matthew John Tripovich, is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Navy. He served as Chief Capability Development Group from 2007 until his retirement in October 2010.

Rear Admiral Davyd Rhys Thomas, is a retired senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nigel Coates (admiral)</span> Royal Australian Navy admiral

Rear Admiral Nigel Stephen Coates, was a senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Burrell (admiral)</span> Royal Australian Navy chief

Vice Admiral Sir Henry Mackay Burrell, was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). He served as Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) from 1959 to 1962. Born in the Blue Mountains, Burrell entered the Royal Australian Naval College in 1918 as a 13-year-old cadet. His first posting at sea was aboard the cruiser HMAS Sydney. During the 1920s and 1930s, Burrell served for several years on exchange with the Royal Navy, specialising as a navigator. During World War II, he filled a key liaison post with the US Navy, and later saw action as commander of the destroyer HMAS Norman, earning a mention in despatches.

Fleet Command is responsible for the command, operations, readiness, training and force generation of all ships, submarines, aircraft squadrons, diving teams, and shore establishments of the Royal Australian Navy. Fleet Command is headquartered at HMAS Kuttabul in Sydney, and is led by the Commander Australian Fleet (COMAUSFLT), also referred to as Fleet Commander Australia (FCAUST), which is a rear admiral (two-star) appointment.

Rear Admiral Marcus Frederick Bonser, is a retired flag rank officer of the Royal Australian Navy. His final posting was as Head of the Military Justice Implementation Team for the Australian Defence Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Gilmore</span>

Rear Admiral Stephen Richard Gilmore, is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Navy. He served as Commander Australian Fleet from October 2009 until December 2011, and as the Head Australian Defence Staff (Washington) and Australian Defence Attaché at the Embassy of Australia, Washington, D.C. from January 2014 until his retirement in 2017.

Rear Admiral Trevor Norman Jones, is a retired senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). He served as Deputy Chief of Navy from 2011 to 2013, Head Military Strategic Commitments from April 2013 to December 2014, and the Commander Joint Task Force 633 from December 2014 to January 2016.

Vice Admiral Raymond James Griggs, is an Australian senior public servant and a senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy Reserve. He served as Chief of Navy from June 2011 to June 2014, before being appointed Vice Chief of the Defence Force until his transfer to the reserve in July 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Noonan (admiral)</span>

Vice Admiral Michael Joseph Noonan, is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Navy, who served as Chief of Navy from 6 July 2018 to 6 July 2022. He previously served as Commander Border Protection Command from 2013 to 2015 and Deputy Chief of Navy from 2016 to 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Johnston (admiral)</span> Royal Australian Navy officer

Admiral David Lance Johnston, is a senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy. He served as Deputy Commander Joint Task Force 633 on Operation Slipper in 2010, Commander Border Protection Command from 2011 to 2013 and, following promotion to vice admiral, was posted as Chief of Joint Operations from 2014 until 2018. Johnston was appointed Vice Chief of the Defence Force in July 2018. He was promoted to admiral and appointed Chief of the Defence Force on 10 July 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuart Mayer</span> Senior Royal Australian Navy officer

Vice Admiral Stuart Campbell Mayer, is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Navy. He joined the navy via the Royal Australian Naval College at HMAS Creswell in 1984 and qualified as a Principal Warfare Officer in 1994. He commanded HMAS Canberra (2002–04), HMAS Anzac (2007–09) and the International Stabilisation Force (2009–10), and deployed on operations to the Persian Gulf, East Timor, and the Arabian Sea during the Iraq War. He served as Commander Australian Fleet from 2014 to 2018, Head Force Design within the Vice Chief of Defence Force Group from 2018 to 2019, and Deputy Commander United Nations Command, based in South Korea, from 2019 to 2021. He retired from the navy in 2022 and was appointed a partner in Ernst & Young's consulting division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian Knox (admiral)</span> Australian naval admiral (1933–2024)

Vice Admiral Ian Warren Knox, was a senior officer of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). In a 42-year career, Knox commanded HMA Ships Torrens, Hobart and Melbourne, briefly served as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, and was Flag Officer Commanding HM Australian Fleet from 1985 to 1987. His career culminated with his appointment as Vice Chief of the Defence Force in January 1987; a position he held until his retirement in September 1989.

Rear Admiral John Robert Lord, is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Navy who served as Maritime Commander Australia from 1999 to 2000. He later embarked on a corporate career, and is Chairman of Huawei Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Hammond (admiral)</span> Royal Australian Navy officer

Vice Admiral Mark David Hammond, is a senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), serving as the Chief of Navy since July 2022. He joined the RAN as an electronics technician in 1986 and, after being accepted for officer training, graduated from the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1990. Much of Hammond's career has been spent in the Submarine Service. He has served on operations in the Indo-Pacific, commanded the Collins-class submarineHMAS Farncomb, was Deputy Chief of Navy from 2018 to 2020, and served as Commander Australian Fleet from November 2020 to June 2022. He succeeded Vice Admiral Michael Noonan as Chief of Navy on 6 July 2022.

Rear Admiral Jonathan Paul Earley, 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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Rear Adm. Dr Jonathan Mead". Who's Who in Australia Online. ConnectWeb. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Portrait of the Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Jonathan Mead, AM, RAN". Naval Historical Society of Australia. June 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  3. ↑ "Mead, Dallas Charles Cardiff". World War II Nominal Roll. Department of Veterans' Affairs. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Vice Admiral Jonathan Dallas Mead". Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Appointment of Officers". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette . 14 February 1984. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  6. ↑ Mead, Jonathan. "The Australia–Indonesia Security Relationship". Research Repository. Deakin University. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  7. ↑ "Hey, Little Fella – I'm Your Daddy". Sydney Morning Herald . 14 April 2006. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  8. ↑ "Australia Day 2007 Honours". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 26 January 2007. p. 2. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  9. ↑ "Australia Day 2007 Honours". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 26 January 2007. p. 11. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  10. ↑ Mead, Jonathan. "Indian National Security: Misguided Men and Guided Missiles". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  11. ↑ "Australia Assumes Command of Combined Task Force 150". Combined Maritime Forces. 16 December 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  12. 1 2 "Military – Gallantry, Distinguished & Conspicuous" (PDF). Queen's Birthday 2013 Honours. Office of the Governor-General of Australia. 10 June 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  13. ↑ Laird, Robin (30 August 2016). "Rear Admiral Jonathan Mead Focused on the Way Ahead for the Royal Australian Navy". Second Line of Defense. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  14. ↑ "Queen's Birthday 2020 Honours List" (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 8 June 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  15. ↑ "Rear Admiral Mark Hammond". Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  16. ↑ "Chief Nuclear-Powered Submarine Task Force: Vice Admiral Jonathan Mead, AO". Department of Defence. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  17. ↑ Greene, Andrew (21 September 2021). "Scott Morrison's Hand-picked General Given New Military Challenge following COVID Vaccine Rollout". ABC News. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  18. ↑ Department of Defence. Launch of the Australian Submarine Agency.
  19. ↑ "Vice Admiral Mead receives US Legion of Merit". Australian Naval Institute. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  20. ↑ "Rear Admiral Jonathan Mead AM RAN". Directory. Australian Government. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  21. ↑ "Museum Council". Australian National Maritime Museum. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
Military offices
Preceded by
Air Marshal Warren McDonald
Chief of Joint Capabilities
2020–2021		Succeeded by
Lieutenant General John Frewen
Preceded by
Rear Admiral Stuart Mayer
Commander Australian Fleet
2018–2020		Succeeded by
Rear Admiral Mark Hammond
Preceded by
Rear Admiral Mark Campbell
Head of Navy Capability
2015–2017		Succeeded by
Rear Admiral Peter Quinn
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.