Lieutenant Commander Adrian Hicks

Born January 1975 in Melbourne, Victoria, Lieutenant Commander Adrian Hicks joined the Royal Australian Navy as a Combat Systems Operator on 4 July 1994. During his career as a sailor he served in the Destroyer HMAS Hobart, Frigates Sydney and Adelaide, and Amphibious ship Manoora. His shore postings included Fleet Information Systems Support Organisation, Joint Electronic Warfare Operational Support Unit and the Defence Science and Technology Organisation.

In 2009 then Petty Officer Hicks was commissioned as a Sub Lieutenant Maritime Warfare Officer and had training postings in HMA Ships Success, Diamantina, Huon and Newcastle. After being awarded his Bridge Warfare Certificate in Newcastle in June 2012 he consolidated his training onboard until 2013 where he was posted to the Plans Directorate (J53) of Headquarters Joint Operations Command. Lieutenant Hicks was responsible for regional contingency planning and was lead ADF planner for Operation RENDER SAFE 2013 (Solomon Islands) and 2014 (Bougainville) where he commanded reconnaissance activities and community engagement tasking prior to operational execution.

Lieutenant Hicks completed Principal Warfare Officer training in 2016 specialising in Air Warfare, and was initially posted as the Gunnery Officer in NUSHIP Hobart. In 2017 owing to operational requirements Adrian returned to Newcastle as the Directions Officer, deploying to the Middle East for Operation MANITOU Rotation 65, he assumed the further role of Operations Officer during the deployment and remained in Newcastle until December 2018

In 2019 Lieutenant Hicks was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and joined the Headquarters Australian Amphibious Force (HQAAF) as the Naval Surface Fire Support Liaison Officer where he was responsible for the planning, synchronisation and execution of Maritime and Joint Effects. Adrian also served within the HQ as the J33 Current Operations Officer, responsible for execution of joint warfare within the Amphibious Objective Area. Highlights of his time with HQAAF include as the Task Group Operations Officer during Operation BUSHFIRE ASSIST 2019-20, and Joint Warfighting Series 2021.

He has seen operational service in East Timor, Middle East Area of Operations, the Solomon Islands and operations in support of Border Protection. He is currently undertaking a Masters of Science and Technology (Maritime Operation).

Lieutenant Commander Hicks assumed Command of HMAS Armidale (II) on December 2021.