Captain Dugald Clelland
Captain Dugald Clelland joined the ADF from Canberra in January 1994, Captain Clelland has had a varied career as a Maritime Warfare Officer. Early sea postings included Patrol Boat HMAS Bendigo, Guided Missile Destroyer HMAS Brisbane, and HMA Survey Ships Benalla and Leeuwin. As a Midshipman, Clelland also thoroughly enjoyed a secondment to the US Navy Guided Missile Destroyer USS Stethem.
Captain Clelland is a Principal Warfare Officer with a mine warfare and hydrographic surveying background. Key appointments include sea service as Executive Officer of Survey Motor Launch HMAS Benalla, sea command of Sydney-based Minehunters HMA Ships Norman and Huon, and the Guided Missile Frigate HMAS Warramunga, and shore command of the Royal Australian Navy Recruit Training School located at HMAS Cerberus, Westernport, Victoria. Staff appointments include service as the personal staff officer to Commander Border Protection Command in Canberra and to Commander Australian Fleet in Sydney, and as head of Frigate Group in Surface Force, Fleet Command.
Captain Clelland has deployed on specific operations to the Middle East Region in 2003 (HMAS Newcastle), 2008 (HMAS Stuart), and 2017/2018 (HMAS Warramunga). He has also worked throughout the Indo-Pacific on border protection operations, multi-national exercises, hydrographic surveying tasks, and engagement activities.
Captain Clelland is a graduate of the Australian Defence Force Academy and the Australian Command and Staff College, and is a Distinguished Graduate of the United States Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Politics and a Masters Degree in Strategy and Policy from the University of New South Wales, a Graduate Certificate in Maritime Studies from the University of Wollongong, and a Masters of Strategy and National Security from the U.S. Naval War College.
Captain Clelland was honoured with the award of the Conspicuous Service Cross in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for duties in Command of HMAS Warramunga whilst deployed to the Middle East Region on Operation MANITOU.
Captain Dugald Clelland has joined HMAS Creswell as Commanding Officer and Director, Training Authority Initial Entry Training, Leadership and Management in January 2022, after two-and-one-half years spent posted to Perth, Western Australia.
