Matt Tripovich
Encyclopedia
Vice Admiral
Matthew John Tripovich AO
, CSC
, RAN
is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Navy
. He served as Chief of the Australian Department of Defence's Capability Development Group from 2007 until his retirement in October 2010.
, Vendetta
, Assail
, Torrens and Hobart
.
He completed the Royal Navy
's Principal Warfare Officer's Course in 1984 and, specialising in anti-air warfare, returned to Australia to serve as the Direction Officer in HMAS Sydney.
In January 1986 he joined the Directorate of Naval User Requirements in Navy Headquarters Australia and was promoted to Lieutenant Commander
in July 1986. He returned to sea in May 1987 as the Direction Officer, Senior Warfare Officer and Operations Officer in HMAS Brisbane. He was appointed as the Fleet Direction Officer on the staff of the Maritime Commander Australia in December 1988.
On promotion to Commander in May 1990, he rejoined HMAS Brisbane as Executive Officer and saw active service during hostilities in the 1990-91 Persian Gulf war
.
He headed the Navy's Nulka
Active Missile Decoy program during 1992-93 and attended the Joint Services Staff College
in the first half of 1994. He commanded HMAS Canberra from September 1994 to May 1996, and then was Staff Officer to the Chief of the Defence Force
until August 1997.
On promotion to Captain
, he became the Director of Maritime Combat Development at Australian Defence Force Headquarters (ADFHQ) in Canberra
. Returning to sea in July 1999, he assumed command of HMAS Anzac
and again saw active service in operations off East Timor later that year.
Promoted to Commodore
in April 2001, he was appointed Director General Naval Capability, Performance and Plans in Navy Headquarters. He rejoined the Fleet as Commodore Flotillas in June 2002 and led the Australian Fleet Sea Training Group, which was awarded a Chief of Defence Force Commendation for its collective contribution to the preparation of forces for a wide range of real world operations during his tenure. As Commodore Flotillas he also commanded the Deployable Joint Force Headquarters (Maritime), which provided deployed command staff for most of the major exercises and real world operations in which the RAN was involved, including operations in the Middle East and the Solomon Islands.
In February 2004, he moved ashore and became Director General Navy Personnel and Training at Navy Headquarters. He was promoted to Rear Admiral
on 1 July 2005 and became Head of Capability Systems in Australian Defence Headquarters.
On 28 September 2007, he was promoted to Vice Admiral
and appointed Chief, Capability Development Group. He relinquished this post in October 2010 on retirement from the ADF.
Tripovich was awarded a Chief of Navy
’s Commendation in 1988, and the Conspicuous Service Cross
for his service in Brisbane during the 1990-91 Gulf War.
In June 2005 he was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for exceptional service to the Royal Australian Navy in the three appointments that he held as a Commodore.
He and his wife Faye have two children, Daniel and Kate. He rides a Harley Davidson and he is an enthusiastic fly fisherman.
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Vice Admiral (Australia)
Vice admiral is the second-highest active rank of the Royal Australian Navy and was created as a direct equivalent of the British rank of vice admiral. It is a three-star rank...
Matthew John Tripovich AO
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, CSC
Conspicuous Service Cross (Australia)
The Conspicuous Service Cross is a decoration of the Australian Honours System. The CSC is awarded only for outstanding devotion to duty, or outstanding achievement in the application of exceptional skills, judgment or dedication, in non-warlike situations...
, RAN
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
. He served as Chief of the Australian Department of Defence's Capability Development Group from 2007 until his retirement in October 2010.
Military career
Matt Tripovich joined the Royal Australian Naval College in January 1974. As a junior officer he served in HMA Ships Duchess, Melbourne, DiamantinaHMAS Diamantina (K377)
HMAS Diamantina , named for the Diamantina River in Queensland, is a River class frigate that served the Royal Australian Navy...
, Vendetta
HMAS Vendetta (D08)
HMAS Vendetta was one of three Daring class destroyers built for and operated by the Royal Australian Navy . The destroyer was built by Williamstown Naval Dockyard and entered service in 1958. During her early career, Vendetta was deployed to the Far East Strategic Reserve on multiple occasions...
, Assail
HMAS Assail (P 89)
HMAS Assail was an Attack class patrol boat boat of the Royal Australian Navy .-Design and construction:The Attack class was ordered in 1964 to operate in Australian waters as patrol boats HMAS Assail (P 89) was an Attack class patrol boat boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).-Design and...
, Torrens and Hobart
HMAS Hobart (D39)
HMAS Hobart was a Perth class guided missile destroyer of the Royal Australian Navy . Built in the United States of America to a slight variant of the United States Navy Charles F. Adams class, she was commissioned into the RAN in 1965. In March 1967, Hobart became the first RAN combat ship...
.
He completed the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
's Principal Warfare Officer's Course in 1984 and, specialising in anti-air warfare, returned to Australia to serve as the Direction Officer in HMAS Sydney.
In January 1986 he joined the Directorate of Naval User Requirements in Navy Headquarters Australia and was promoted to Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
in July 1986. He returned to sea in May 1987 as the Direction Officer, Senior Warfare Officer and Operations Officer in HMAS Brisbane. He was appointed as the Fleet Direction Officer on the staff of the Maritime Commander Australia in December 1988.
On promotion to Commander in May 1990, he rejoined HMAS Brisbane as Executive Officer and saw active service during hostilities in the 1990-91 Persian Gulf war
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
.
He headed the Navy's Nulka
Nulka
Nulka is an Australian designed and developed active missile decoy built by an Australian/American collaboration. Used aboard warships of the United States Navy , Royal Australian Navy , United States Coast Guard , and Canadian Forces, Nulka is a rocket propelled, disposable, offboard, active decoy...
Active Missile Decoy program during 1992-93 and attended the Joint Services Staff College
Australian Defence College
The Australian Defence College comprises three tri-service educational organisations operated by the Australian Defence Force in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory:* the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies ,...
in the first half of 1994. He commanded HMAS Canberra from September 1994 to May 1996, and then was Staff Officer to the Chief of the Defence Force
Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)
Chief of the Defence Force is the most senior appointment in the Australian Defence Force . The CDF commands the ADF under the direction of the Minister of Defence, in a coequal arrangement with the Secretary of Defence, the most senior public servant in the Department of Defence.The position is a...
until August 1997.
On promotion to Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
, he became the Director of Maritime Combat Development at Australian Defence Force Headquarters (ADFHQ) in Canberra
Russell Offices
The Russell Offices is a complex of office buildings located in the Canberra suburb of Russell.Together with Campbell Park, these two complexes are home to the Australian Department of Defence and contain the administrative headquarters of the Australian Defence Force.The Office of National...
. Returning to sea in July 1999, he assumed command of HMAS Anzac
HMAS Anzac (FFH 150)
HMAS Anzac is the lead ship of the Anzac class frigates in use with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy . Entering service in 1996, the frigate operated as part of the INTERFET peacekeeping taskforce in 1999. In 2003, she was involved in the Battle of Al Faw, and became the...
and again saw active service in operations off East Timor later that year.
Promoted to Commodore
Commodore (rank)
Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
in April 2001, he was appointed Director General Naval Capability, Performance and Plans in Navy Headquarters. He rejoined the Fleet as Commodore Flotillas in June 2002 and led the Australian Fleet Sea Training Group, which was awarded a Chief of Defence Force Commendation for its collective contribution to the preparation of forces for a wide range of real world operations during his tenure. As Commodore Flotillas he also commanded the Deployable Joint Force Headquarters (Maritime), which provided deployed command staff for most of the major exercises and real world operations in which the RAN was involved, including operations in the Middle East and the Solomon Islands.
In February 2004, he moved ashore and became Director General Navy Personnel and Training at Navy Headquarters. He was promoted to Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
on 1 July 2005 and became Head of Capability Systems in Australian Defence Headquarters.
On 28 September 2007, he was promoted to Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
and appointed Chief, Capability Development Group. He relinquished this post in October 2010 on retirement from the ADF.
Tripovich was awarded a Chief of Navy
Chief of Navy (Australia)
The Chief of Navy is the most senior appointment in the Royal Australian Navy, responsible to the Chief of the Defence Force and the Secretary of Defence...
’s Commendation in 1988, and the Conspicuous Service Cross
Conspicuous Service Cross (Australia)
The Conspicuous Service Cross is a decoration of the Australian Honours System. The CSC is awarded only for outstanding devotion to duty, or outstanding achievement in the application of exceptional skills, judgment or dedication, in non-warlike situations...
for his service in Brisbane during the 1990-91 Gulf War.
In June 2005 he was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for exceptional service to the Royal Australian Navy in the three appointments that he held as a Commodore.
Personal
Tripovich has a Graduate Diploma in Strategic Studies, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD), is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program and a member of the Harvard Business School Alumni.He and his wife Faye have two children, Daniel and Kate. He rides a Harley Davidson and he is an enthusiastic fly fisherman.
Honours and awards
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Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) | 14 June 2010 |
| Member of the Order of Australia (AM) | 13 June 2005 | |
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Conspicuous Service Cross Conspicuous Service Cross (Australia) The Conspicuous Service Cross is a decoration of the Australian Honours System. The CSC is awarded only for outstanding devotion to duty, or outstanding achievement in the application of exceptional skills, judgment or dedication, in non-warlike situations... |
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Australian Active Service Medal Australian Active Service Medal The Australian Active Service Medal is an Australian military decoration. It was authorised 13 September 1988 to recognise prescribed service in warlike operations... |
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Australian Service Medal Australian Service Medal The Australian Service Medal is an Australian military decoration. It was authorized 13 September 1988 to recognise prescribed service in peacekeeping and non-warlike operations. It is awarded with a clasp to denote the prescribed operation and subsequent awards of the medal are made in the form of... |
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Defence Force Service Medal Defence Force Service Medal The Defence Force Service Medal is an Australian Military award given for long service by permanent members of the Australian Defence Force... |
35–39 years service |
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Australian Defence Medal Australian Defence Medal The Australian Defence Medal is an Australian military decoration which recognises current and former Australian Defence Force personnel who completed an initial enlistment period, or four years service... |
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Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) The Naut Tahrir al-Kuwait was instituted by King Fahd ibn Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia for service during the Liberation of Kuwait campaign.- Background :... |
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Meritorious Unit Citation Meritorious Unit Citation The Meritorious Unit Citation is a collective group decoration awarded to members of Australian military units. It recognises sustained outstanding service in warlike operations... |
Awarded to HMAS Brisbane, 4 November 1991 |
