Commander Alfonso Santos

Commander Alfonso Santos, CSC, RAN joined the RAN from Sydney NSW in 1996 as a recruit Boatswain’s Mate. As a sailor he served in HMA Ships Arunta and Warrnambool as well as Sea Training Group as a damage control instructor. Following instructional and divisional roles at the RAN Recruit School, Commander Santos was promoted to Petty Officer in 2005 and applied for commission which he received January 2006. As a junior officer, Commander Santos served in HMA Ships Success and Labuan with the latter exposing him to service in Timor-Leste. Commander Santos served as the Executive Officer and Navigator in Ardent Four in HMA Ships Bundaberg and Childers.

Following a posting as a navigation instructor in HMAS Watson, the then Lieutenant Santos was selected for sea command and in 2012 assumed command of Ardent Two in HMA Ships Bundaberg and Childers. Ensuing a successful command and being granted provisional promotion he posted to HMAS Cerberus as Officer in Charge of the Boatswain Faculty leading Navy training in gunnery and seamanship.

In 2015 Commander Santos was appointed as Staff Officer Maritime Operations within Maritime Border Command and was confirmed in rank January 2016. In December 2018 Commander Santos assumed the role of Executive Officer HMAS Success and, following her decommissioning, returned to Canberra assuming duties as Deputy Director C4ISR Design within Force Integration Division. In November 2019 Commander Santos assumed duties as Deputy Director Operations within Maritime Border Command and throughout directed several sensitive and high profile operations.

Commander Santos assumed Command of HMAS Cairns on 21 January 2022.