Commodore R.W. (‘Rory’) Burnett
Rory Burnett joined the RAN College as a 13 y/o Cadet Mid in the 1943 entry.
After graduation he served with the RN in HM Ships Sussex (Flagship of British Pacific Fleet) Jul 47, President (RNC Greenwich) Sep 48 and Excellent Aug 49.
He then served in HMA Ships Australia Aug 50 and (on promotion to LEUT) in Warramunga Jan 52, before returning to the UK for TAS specialist course in Jan 54.
On completion of the TAS Course he served in HMS Vernon from Mar 55 before returning to Australia and posting to Navy Office (NO) in the Naval Ordnance and Underwater Weapons Branch in Dec 57.
Promoted to LCDR in Mar 59 he next posted to HMAS Vendetta as the TAS and for 9th Destroyer Squadron duties Nov 59.
In Jan 61 he returned to NO in the Tactics, Trials & Staff Requirements Branch.
He became the Fleet TAS in Dec 62, and went onto serve in HMAS Watson in Oct 65.
In Jun 66 he posted to a position with the USN; he was promoted to CMDR on 31 Dec 66.
In Feb 68 he posted to HMAS Rushcutter as the IKARA Project Team Leader and in Aug 68 became Director User Requirements.
He assumed command of HMAS Derwent in Dec 70 and then posted as Director Underwater Weapons Branch in Jun 72.
Promoted to CAPT on 21 Dec 73 he became Director Defence Cooperation Programme-Navy.
In Aug 75 he assumed command of HMAS Brisbane.
Following command he returned to NO as DNIP and in Jul 79 on promotion to CDRE he posted as Director General Navy Operational Requirements.
His final posting before retiring from the RAN was as NOCVIC from Feb 82.
- Rank
- Commodore
- Service
- RAN
- Nickname
- Rory
- Died
- 04/12/2015
Source of information: DNSOM, Navy Headquarters
