Rear Admiral Adam Grunsell
Adam Lloyd Grunsell joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1984 and undertook his initial Bachelor of Arts studies at the RAN College, Jervis Bay before completing his studies at HMAS Watson and the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1985-86.
In 1987 he undertook initial supply officer training at HMAS Cerberus followed by a range of sea and shore postings. During 1994-96, Lieutenant Grunsell served on exchange with the United States Navy in Jacksonville, Florida providing logistics support to ships and bases in the South East United States of America. He was promoted Lieutenant Commander in 1996 and served as the Supply Officer at the submarine base, HMAS Platypus in Sydney, before joining the Anzac Class frigate HMAS Arunta as the commissioning Supply Officer in 1998. He served in Arunta until 2000 when he assumed the role of Officer in Charge of Maritime Logistics Training at HMAS Cerberus.
In 2001 he completed the inaugural Australian Command and Staff Course, at Weston Creek in Canberra, graduating with a Masters in Management (Defence Studies) and was promoted Commander in July of that year. He then served as the J51-Plans in the Joint Logistics Command, in Melbourne, during 2002-03. He subsequently served as the Deputy Training Authority Logistics at HMAS Cerberus during 2004-05 and was promoted Captain in late 2005, and appointed as the Director General Navy Communications and Coordination in Navy Headquarters. He was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC), in the 2007 Australia Day Honours List “for outstanding achievement as the Director General Navy Communications and Coordination.”
During 2007-08, Captain Grunsell attended the United States National Defense University in Washington DC graduating as a Distinguished Graduate of the Masters in Science in National Resource Strategy program. He subsequently served as Chief of Staff (Support) in Fleet Command during 2008-09 before assuming the position of Director of the Amphibious and Afloat System Program Office in 2009 to lead maintenance and engineering support of Navy's amphibious and replenishment ships. This was a challenging role with significant planning and effort required to maintain the aging amphibious ships (HMA Ships Kanimbla, Manoora and Tobruk) as well as the tankers HMA Ships Sirius and Success, which were unique vessels requiring specialist equipment and maintenance.
He was promoted Commodore on 14 October 2011 and appointed as the Director General Maritime Support until 2014 and then served as the Director General Reform in Maritime Systems Division of the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group in 2015. He was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2015 Queens Birthday Honours List for his efforts in maritime logistics, engineering and sustainment support of the Royal Australian Navy.
Adam Grunsell was promoted Rear Admiral on 9 December 2015 and appointed as the Head of Maritime Systems in the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group where he was responsible for the in-service sustainment of all units of the Royal Australian Navy surface fleet. Rear Admiral Grunsell ceased full time naval service in December 2018.
