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Michael van Balen

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Senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy

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Michael Julian van Balen
van Balen with Vice Admiral William Moran of the United States Navy, November 2013
Born (1961-02-16) 16 February 1961 (age 63)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
AllegianceAustralia
Service / branchRoyal Australian Navy
Years of service1978–2016
RankRear Admiral
CommandsDeputy Chief of Navy (2013–16)
HMAS Watson (2005)
HMAS Sydney (2002–03)
Battles / warsIraq War
AwardsOfficer of the Order of Australia
Commendation for Distinguished Service
Officer of the Legion of Merit (United States)

Rear Admiral Michael Julian van Balen AO (born 16 February 1961) is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), who served as the Deputy Chief of Navy from 2013 to January 2016.

Early life

van Balen was born in Brisbane, Queensland, on 16 February 1961 to Adrian and Cath van Balen.

Naval career

van Balen joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1978 and graduated from the Royal Australian Naval College in 1982.

van Balen has served in a various billets within the Australian naval high command and United States Navy commands.

He has served on board a variety of Royal Australian Navy ships including HMA ships Barbette, Brisbane, Stalwart, Stuart, Yarra, Bunbury, Derwent, Swan and the United States Navy ship USS Ranger, a Forrestal-class aircraft carrier.

van Balen completed a Master of Management degree from the Australian Defence Force Academy in 2001. He attended the US Naval War College in 2005.

Honours and awards

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Officer of the Order of Australia 26 January 2015
Commendation for Distinguished Service 26 January 2005
Australian Active Service Medal
Iraq Medal
Defence Force Service Medal with 4 clasps (35–39 Years Service)
Australian Defence Medal
Officer of the Legion of Merit (United States)

RADM van Balen has also been awarded the RAN's "Principal Warfare Officer" badge and the RAN's "Sea Readiness Badge".

References

  1. ^ "Rear Admiral Michael van Balen". RAN Admirals. Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  2. "Rear Admiral Michael van Balen". Who's Who in Australia Online. ConnectWeb. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  3. "Graduation Exercise 17 June 2005" (PDF). US Naval War College. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 January 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  4. "Award of Commendation for Distinguished Service to van BALEN, Michael Julian". It's an Honour. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
Military offices
Preceded byRear Admiral Trevor Jones Deputy Chief of Navy
2013–2016 		Succeeded byRear Admiral Michael Noonan
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