Rear Admiral Matt Buckley commenced as Deputy Chief of Navy (DCN) in January, the second submariner to take up the DCN role after Chief of Navy Vice-Admiral Mark Hammond.
It is the first time submariners have occupied both roles concurrently in the Royal Australian Navy.
The responsibility he now carries is a far cry from his carefree life growing up on the NSW south coast.
Rear Admiral Buckley's 35-year career in Navy began not far from home at HMAS Creswell in 1990, followed by the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1992.
He volunteered for submarine service and spent the tactical phase of his career serving in Oberon and Collins-class submarines.
Career highlights include two years on exchange in a Canadian submarine based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and serving in the commissioning crew of HMAS Rankin.
Submarine Command Course 'Perisher' and the tactical phase of the USN Submarine Command Course followed, leading Rear Admiral Buckley to command HMAS Collins and later serve as the Commander of the Australian Submarine Force.
DCN leads and manages all Navy personnel, training and resources to deliver on Navy's mission.
"Having spent three-and-a-half years working on our nuclear-powered submarine program, I got to spend a lot of time working with some of our closest allies and partners and really understanding what it is to bring a new technology into service," Rear Admiral Buckley said.
'The big thing I'm focused on for 2025 is how we build resilient war-fighting teams.'
"I think bringing some of those ideas and concepts into the broader Navy, working out how we uplift the Navy for the future fleet, and how we make sure our workforce is professionalised, how we're resilient enough to face the challenges ahead, I think that's something I can bring from my past experiences, but particularly that last one."
Rear Admiral Buckley's priorities for 2025 naturally align to his accountabilities.
"The big thing I'm focused on for 2025 is how we build resilient war-fighting teams," he said.
"It's really important because we are in challenging strategic times and we need to be prepared to operate across the spectrum from peace to crisis and conflict.
"And while we always seek to deter conflict, it's our job as a Navy to be able to operate across that spectrum.
"Resilience is something that you have inherent as an individual, but when you bring that together in a team environment, it's how you can help one another to go out, do really tough and challenging things, recover, bounce back, and go and do it again, if need be."
Rear Admiral Buckley said the Naval Mastery model of personal and professional development was the pathway for setting Navy's people up for success.
"We need to continue to drive home the Mastery model, so our people will be suitably qualified and experienced to do the jobs we need them to do," he said.
Rear Admiral Buckley said he was most looking forward to supporting the amazing Australians who join the Navy, developing them through the mastery model and watching them animate the most incredible technologies.
"The thing I'm looking forward to the most is having a Navy with the best and brightest people," he said.
"To be a young person joining the Navy is really exciting. It's a privilege to be a part of that journey."
