Chairman
Stuart O'Brien
Chief Petty Officer Stuart O’Brien joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1990 as a Writer. His first posting was as the Registry and Pay Clerk at the Royal Australian Naval College in Jervis Bay. Following this Chief O’Brien served onboard Her Majesties Australian Ship (HMAS) DARWIN and participated in the 1994 Exercise RIMPAC off Hawaii.
Promoted to the rank of Leading Seaman, Chief O’Brien served as the Staff Officer to the Director of Sailors Career Management, then back to sea on HMAS MELBOURNE in 1998 as the Finance Clerk and Pay Supervisor. During his time onboard MELBOURNE he was awarded the Australian Service Medal with Kuwait Clasp for service in the Persian Gulf in 1999.
In 2001, he joined the personal staff of the Maritime Commander Australia as the Flag Writer, the Finance and Travel Manager for the Admiral and was awarded the Australia Day Medallion. Promoted to Petty Officer, he took up the role of second in charge of Sailors Promotions once again returning to the Directorate of Sailors Career Management. Chief O’Brien was awarded the Systems Commander Australia Commendation for his work on streamlining the reporting process for Sailors Promotion. Also, it was during this posting that he became well known for his advocacy for the rights of Gay & Lesbian Service personnel, writing many papers to secure the recognition of Same-Sex couples within the Australian Defence Force, but also establishing DEFGLIS (Defence Gay & Lesbian Information Service).
In 2005, Chief O’Brien was the Commanding Officer’s Secretary and Personnel Officer onboard HMAS CANBERRA. Immediately following his sea posting to CANBERRA, Chief O’Brien deployed to the Middle East serving as the Chief Clerk within the Australian National Headquarters at Camp Victory, Iraq, where he received the Australian Active Service Medal with Iraq Clasp and the Iraq Campaign Medal.
Chief O’Brien returned to Australia as the Staff Officer Research within the Directorate of Navy Personnel Research, looking at a wide range of data on retention, separations and recruiting.
In 2007, after only six months back in Australia, he returned to the Middle East at short notice to take on the role of Chief Clerk within the International Zone at the Multi-National Force – Iraq headquarters, Baghdad. During his service here, he was awarded the US Meritorious Service Medal for his service within the Staff Judge Advocate’s Office.
Chief O’Brien is partnered to Christopher and lives in Sydney Australia.
