Vice Admiral Russell Harry Crane, (born 11 June 1954) is a retired senior officer of the
Royal Australian Navy (RAN), who served as the
Chief of Navy from July 2008 until his retirement in June 2011.
Early life
Crane was born in
Southport, Queensland
Southport is a coastal Suburbs and localities (Australia), suburb in the City of Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. In the , Southport had a population of 31,908 people. It contains the Gold Coast central business district.
Geography
Sout ...
, on 11 June 1954 to Harry and Nina Crane.
During his early teenage years, Crane was a cadet enlisted at the
Naval Reserve Cadet unit "TS Tyalgum" at Main Beach on the Gold Coast.
Naval career
Crane began his naval career as a junior recruit at in 1970.
[Chief of Navy]
, Official Navy bio Training as an Electrical Mechanic in aircraft communications, he was posted aboard the aircraft carrier in 1971. Following selection for officer training in 1972, he began training as a Seaman Officer serving in numerous RAN establishments and ships, before receiving his commission. He was appointed as Minehunting Control Officer in the minehunter , in 1978 and promoted to
lieutenant during the same year. In 1983 he was promoted to
lieutenant commander and appointed in command of ''Curlew''. He was later appointed as the executive officer of the destroyer escort ,
then in 1988, promoted to
commander
Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain.
...
and posted to the Equipment Acquisition Division in Navy Office Canberra.
In 1993, Crane was posted as the commanding officer aboard , a destroyer escort based in Western Australia. He was promoted to
captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
in January 1996 and appointed as the Chief Staff Officer Command and Control, Communications and Intelligence in Maritime Headquarters. Captain Crane assumed command of on 24 November 1998. During his period in command ''Success'' conducted a number of deployments to the South East Asia region including, in September and October 1999, Operation Stabilise in support of peacekeeping operations in
East Timor.
Awarded the
Conspicuous Service Medal in early 2000 for his time in command HMAS ''Success'',
[It's an honour – Conspicuous Service Medal – 12 June 2000]
/ref> Crane was promoted to commodore in March 2000 and posted to Australian Defence Headquarters in Canberra as the Director General Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare. He was Commander Australian Navy Systems Command from October 2001 before being promoted to rear admiral
Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...
on 1 May 2004 and assuming duties as Director General Coastwatch and the inaugural Commander of the newly formed Joint Offshore Protection Command in March 2005. Crane became the Deputy Chief of Navy in June 2006, and was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in June 2007.[It's an honour – Member of the Order of Australia – 11 June 2007]
/ref>
Crane was promoted to vice admiral and succeeded Vice Admiral Russ Shalders
Vice Admiral Russell Edward Shalders, (born 28 September 1951) 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.
Early ...
as Chief of Navy on 4 July 2008. For his "distinguished service as Deputy Chief of Navy and as Chief of Navy", Crane was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...
in the 2010 Australia Day Honours The 2010 Australia Day Honours are appointments to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by Australian citizens. The list was announced on 26 January 2010 by the Governor General of Australia, Quentin Bryce.
The Australia D ...
. In February 2011, the RAN under Crane was embroiled in controversy when the Australian Defence Force was left with a critically reduced amphibious capability. Analysts claimed that a critical naval capability had been allowed to deteriorate to the point of failure.
On 24 May 2011, Crane was conferred Singapore's Meritorious Service Medal by Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen
Ng Eng Hen ( zh, s=黄永宏, p=Huáng Yǒnghóng; born 10 December 1958) is a Singaporean politician and former oncologist who has been serving as Minister for Defence since 2011. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he has bee ...
at an investiture held at the Ministry of Defence. Crane stood down as Chief of Navy and retired from the RAN on 7 June 2011. For a number of personal reasons he specifically requested to retire on this date, nearly one month earlier than the intended 4 July Defence Chiefs change over, and five weeks prior to Crane's 41st anniversary of service with the RAN. He was presented with the French National Order of Merit by Vice Admiral Stephane Verwaerde, Deputy Chief of the French Navy, on 17 May 2013.
Honours and awards
References
External links
Official photo
copyright
{{DEFAULTSORT:Crane, Russell
1954 births
Military personnel from Queensland
Australian military personnel of the International Force for East Timor
Chiefs of Navy (Australia)
Commanders of the Legion of Merit
Commanders of the Ordre national du Mérite
Deputy Chiefs of Navy (Australia)
Living people
Officers of the Order of Australia
People from the Gold Coast, Queensland
Recipients of the Conspicuous Service Medal
Recipients of the Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera)
Royal Australian Navy admirals