Distinguished Speaker Series: The Navy in the maritime century - Vice Admiral Griggs

The Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Griggs, will deliver a speech at the Lowy Institute on the Navy’s role in contributing to Australia’s national prosperity in the maritime century. Australia has entered a Maritime Century as well as an Asian Century. In the 21st century, humanity has attained the capacity to use the world’s oceans more than ever before – for transport; for resources; and for the importance of the maritime environment itself. As a result the world’s oceans have become more valuable than ever before; nowhere is this more evident than in Asia. Australia is inextricably linked to this trend and our national prosperity and well-being are utterly dependent on our ability to use the ocean. Vice Admiral Griggs joined the Adelaide Port Division of the Royal Australian Navy Reserve in 1978 as a radio operator and entered the Royal Australian Naval College at HMAS Creswell in 1979. He undertook training in the Aircraft Carrier HMAS Melbourne, and HMA Ships Advance and Yarra before attaining his Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate in the Royal Navy Ship HMS Jersey. He served as Navigating Officer of HMA Ships Cessnock, Torrens, Tobruk, Jervis Bay and Perth; was the commissioning Executive Officer of HMAS Anzac helping to bring that class of ship into service; and commanded HMAS Arunta and the Australian Amphibious Task Group. Vice Admiral Griggs has served in a wide range of postings including as Deputy Fleet Commander, a member of the 2009 Defence White Paper team, as the Deputy Head Strategic Reform and Governance and as Deputy Chief of Joint Operations. He assumed command of the Royal Australian Navy in June 2011.