Commander Troy Van Tienhoven
Commander Troy Van Tienhoven joined the RAN from the Sunshine Coast as a Combat Systems Operator in 1994. After junior sailor postings to HMA Ships Success (AOR-304), Hobart (DDG-39) and Newcastle (FFG-06), he sub-specialised as an Anti-Submarine Aircraft Controller (ASAC). On promotion to the rank of Leading Seaman he commissioned as a Seaman Officer in 1998.
Officer training postings included HMA Ships Hobart and Brisbane (DDG-41), he received his Bridge Warfare Certificate in 2001 onboard Brisbane and consolidated his training as member of the decommissioning crew. After employment as the Navigating Officer of the Mine Hunter HMAS Huon (MHC-82), he served in the Australian National Headquarters (ASNHQ) in Qatar and Iraq in 2003. Troy returned to the Middle East onboard HMAS Stuart (FFH-153) in 2004, prior to commencing Principle Warfare Officer (PWO) training.
Posted to HMAS Sydney (FFG-03) as the Anti-Submarine Warfare and Operations Officer upon completion of PWO training in 2004, he was instrumental in organising the test and evaluation program of the newly upgraded FFG (FFGUP). In 2007, he was selected as the Commanding Officer of the Armidale Class Patrol Boat (ACPB) Crew Assail Four and served on border protection operations until late 2009, primarily commanding the patrol boats HMAS Maitland (ACPB-88) and HMAS Broome (ACPB-90).
Troy was briefly posted to the PWO Faculty as Directing Staff - Communications in 2010, before appointment as Executive Officer in HMAS Toowoomba (FFH-156). He deployed to the Middle East in Toowoomba in 2011. Upon departure from Toowoomba in 2013, he undertook a posting as the Operations Officer to Commander Border Protection Command (COMBPC) before commencing studies at the Australian Command and Staff Course in 2014.
After completing his studies and on promotion to Commander, he undertook a posting to Headquarters Joint Operations Command (HQJOC) where he was responsible for the joint planning of all domestic operations. Prior to selection as Commanding Officer HMAS Parramatta (FFH-154) he served as the Fleet Executive Officer in Sea Training Group throughout 2016-17.
Awards include a Chief of Navy Gold Commendation for his service in the ASNHQ in 2003, a Fleet Commander’s Bronze Commendation as the Operations Officer in Sydney and a Fleet Commander’s Bronze Commendation as the Executive Officer in Toowoomba.
After successfully graduating from the Australian Command and Staff College in 2014, Commander Van Tienhoven holds a Master of Arts (Defence and Strategy) from the Australian National University. He assumed command of HMAS Parramatta (IV) in December 2017.
