Captain Brett Chandler will present the Principal Address in Cooke Park next Friday (April 25).

Captain Chandler was born and raised in Sydney.

In 1979, he joined the Royal Australian Naval College, graduating with a degree in Chemistry and Oceanography from the University of New South Wales. 

After graduation, he served at sea in patrol boats, guided missile destroyers and frigates both in the Australian Navy and on exchange with the Canadian Navy.

His time at sea has included many operations including Operation Desert Storm in the first Gulf War. 

Captain Chandler is a specialist in Anti-Submarine Warfare and has instructed the United States Navy in Anti-Submarine Warfare, in San Diego; as well as grand strategy and history at the National Defense University in Washington DC. 

From 2004–2006 he commanded HMAS KUTTABUL, then was posted as the Chief Staff Officer Operations in Navy Systems Command overseeing the operations of all shore naval establishments in Australia. 

In 2008, he was seconded for three years as a Senior Military Liaison Officer in the Department of Peacekeeping at the United Nations in New York, where he led an Integrated Operations Team conducting the planning of peacekeeping operations in Chad and Sudan.  

On return to Australia in 2011, he was appointed Commanding Officer - HMAS CRESWELL and the Training Authority for Initial Training and Leadership Management.  

In this capacity he was responsible for the delivery of all training at the Royal Australian Navy Recruit School and Royal Australian Naval College.

In January 2014 he assumed his current duties as Commander Shore Force, and responsibility for the delivery of all shore naval capability and command over all naval shore establishments.

Captain Chandler is married to Lisa, a teacher, and has two sons attending university. In his spare time he enjoys reading history and watching soccer.