Commander Michael Oborn
Commander Michael Oborn, CSM, RAN was born in Gladstone, Queensland in 1973. He joined the Royal Australian Navy, through the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1991 where he read a Bachelor of Science.
During his Maritime Warfare Officer training Commander Oborn served in HMA Ships Torrens, Swan and Labuan, before attaining his Bridge Warfare Certificate in HMAS Darwin in 1996.
In 1997 the then Lieutenant Oborn completed the Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Officers course before taking up a role as Operations Officer of Australian Clearance Diving Team One in Sydney. From here Lieutenant Oborn served in HMAS Huon before being selected for his first command appointment as Executive Officer of Australian Clearance Diving Team Four, in Western Australia.
In 2002 and 2003 Oborn served as the Flag Lieutenant to Chief of Navy, for both Vice Admirals Shackleton and Ritchie, and during this period he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander. Subsequently then Lieutenant Commander Oborn took up command of HMAS Betano in 2004, a Landing Craft Heavy based in Darwin. In 2006, after a short staff posting in Navy Headquarters Lieutenant Commander Oborn was selected as the Executive Officer of HMAS Kanimbla. The highlight of his time in Kanimbla was the deployment to the South West Pacific for Operation QUICKSTEP, the Australian Defence Force preparation for assistance to Australian personnel in Fiji.
In July 2008 Lieutenant Commander Oborn was selected for the United Kingdom Advanced Command and Staff Course at Shrivenham. The 12 month course was attended by over 300 personnel representing 61 countries, and it was during this time that he also read his Masters of Arts from Kings College London. On completion of studies Lieutenant Commander Oborn spent the following 15 months with the United Kingdom’s Amphibious Task Group operating and exercising in the North Atlantic, Atlantic and Arctic Circle.
Commander Oborn was promoted to his current rank in January 2011 and took up his fourth Command assignment as Executive Officer HMAS Cerberus in December 2011. Commander Oborn served at Cerberus, the Royal Australian Navy's foremost and largest training establishment, for three years, during which time he was recognised for his meritorious service to Cerberus in the 2014 Australia Day Honours with the award of a Conspicuous Service Medal.
In 2015 Commander Oborn deployed to Afghanistan as the Chief of International Engagements in the NATO Afghan National Army Trust Fund Office, within the Headquarters of the RESOLUTE Support Mission.
Commander Michael Oborn assumed command of HMAS Sirius, a Fleet Replenishment Vessel, based out of Garden Island, Western Australia on 3 December 2015.
