Stuart Mayer

Vice Admiral Stuart Campbell Mayer, AO, CSC & Bar is a senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy. He commanded the International Stabilisation Force in Timor-Leste from 2009 to 2010, was Commander Australian Fleet from 2014 to 2018, and served as Head Force Design within the Vice Chief of Defence Force Group from 2018 to 2019. He assumed his current appointment as Deputy Commander United Nations Command, based in South Korea, in July 2019.

Stuart Campbell Mayer
Vice Admiral Stuart Mayer in January 2020
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Royal Australian Navy
Years of service	1984–present
Rank	Vice Admiral
Commands held	Deputy Commander United Nations Command (2019–) Head Force Design (2018–19) Fleet Command (2014–18) International Stabilisation Force (2009–10) HMAS Anzac (2007–09) HMAS Canberra (2002–04)
Battles/wars	Gulf War International Force East Timor Iraq War
Awards	Officer of the Order of Australia Conspicuous Service Cross & Bar Commendation for Distinguished Service Medal of Merit (East Timor) Meritorious Service Medal (United States)

Naval career

Early career

Mayer completed the Higher School Certificate in 1983 at North Sydney Boys High School. He joined the Royal Australian Naval College in 1984 as a seaman specialist, and on completion of initial training Mayer gained Bridge Watch-keeping Certificates on board HMAS Gladstone and HMAS Darwin. Mayer completed training as an Air Intercept Controller and returned to sea in HMA ships Canberra and HMAS Sydney, including service aboard Sydney "as Air Intercept Control Officer and Boarding Officer during that ship's operational deployment to the Persian Gulf during the 1990–91 Gulf war."[1]

In 1993 Mayer commenced training as a Principal Warfare Officer (Direction) and graduated with distinction in 1994. As Direction Officer, Mayer served aboard both HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide, undertaking a wide range of regional deployments and operations, including service as the Task Unit Operations Officer during Operation Stabilise – ADF operations in support of East Timorese independence.[1]

In January 2000 Mayer was promoted to commander and posted to the United States as the first ADF Liaison officer to US Joint Forces Command based in Norfolk, Virginia. Mayer returned from the United States in mid-2002 and assumed command of HMAS Canberra, continuing an association with that ship that included service in every rank from trainee to commanding officer.[1]

Mayer left HMAS Canberra in July 2004 and was promoted to the rank of captain and assumed the position of Chief Staff Officer (Operations) at Maritime Headquarters (MHQ) Australia in January 2005. While posted to MHQ, Mayer was seconded to the Australian Maritime Deployable HQ staff for duties as Commander Task Group 58.1 – Northern Arabian Gulf Maritime Security Operations Commander. Mayer was awarded a Commendation for Distinguished Service for his "distinguished performance" in this role.[2] Mayer returned to MHQ in October 2005, resuming duties as Chief Staff Officer (Operations).[1] His "outstanding achievement" while with MHQ led to the award of a Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) in 2008.[3]

Senior commands

In January 2007 Mayer attended the Australian Defence College and read for a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies. He assumed command of the frigate HMAS Anzac in December 2007 and completed deployments to exercise RIMPAC and to Southeast Asia as the Commander of the RAN Task Group. Mayer left Anzac in mid-2009, was promoted to commodore and appointed Commander of the multi-national International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in East Timor on 24 October 2009. The first non-army officer to hold this command, Mayer demonstrated "inspirational leadership and initiative, and outstanding dedication to duty in [a] stable but fragile security environment" during his six-month deployment, for which he was awarded a Bar to his CSC and the East Timorese Medal of Merit.[4][5]

On Mayer's return to Australia in April 2010, he assumed duties as Commodore Flotillas at Fleet Headquarters.[1] Promoted to rear admiral, he was appointed Commander Australian Fleet on 12 June 2014.[6] In recognition of his "selfless devotion to duty and outstanding achievement" in these senior roles, Mayer was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2017 Australia Day Honours.[7] He relinquished command of the Australian Fleet to Rear Admiral Jonathan Mead in January 2018 and was appointed as Head Force Design within the Vice Chief of Defence Force Group from March.[8]

In April 2019 it was announced that Mayer would be appointed Deputy Commander United Nations Command in South Korea later in the year.[9][10] He relinquished Head Force Design in June and, promoted vice admiral on 18 July,[8] succeeded Lieutenant General Wayne Eyre of the Canadian Army as Deputy Commander on 28 July.[11] He is the second non-American (after Eyre) and first Australian to hold the post in the 69-year history of United Nations Command.[10][11]

Mayer is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New South Wales, a Master of Arts from Deakin University, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern Queensland.[8][12]

Personal life

Mayer is married to Susanne, with whom he has four children. Mayer's interests include rugby, sailing, bushwalking and kayaking.[12]

References

1. Commodore Stuart Campbell Mayer, CSC, RAN – Combined Forces Maritime Component Commander, 2012
2. Commendation for Distinguished Service, 2006
3. Conspicuous Service Cross, 2008
4. "Bar to the Conspicuous Service Cross" (PDF). Office of the Governor-General of Australia. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
5. Australian Government, Department of Defence. "Outgoing Commander highlights East Timor Defence Force Development". Defence.gov.au. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
6. Fleet Commander farewelled as new Admiral takes the weight
7. "Military Division of the Order of Australia Media Notes" (PDF). Australia Day 2017 Honours List. Office of the Governor-General of Australia. 26 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
8. "Vice Admiral Stuart Campbell Mayer". Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
9. "Australian Defence Force Officer Appointed to Deputy Commander United Nations Command Headquarters in Korea". Defence News. Department of Defence. 30 April 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
10. "Australian Rear Admiral Named Deputy Commander of UN Command in S. Korea". Stars and Stripes. 30 April 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
11. "Australian Admiral Assumes UNC Deputy Chief Duty". Yonhap News Agency. 28 July 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
12. "Deputy Commander UNK: Vice Admiral Stuart Campbell Mayer". United States Forces Korea. Retrieved 31 July 2019.