Rear Admiral Brett Sonter

Rear Admiral Brett Sonter was born in Sydney and joined the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in 1990. After three years at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA), he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of New South Wales. He also holds a Master of Arts (Strategy and Policy) from the University of New South Wales and a Master of Science (Strategy) from the US National Defense University.

His career as a Principal Warfare Officer (PWO) includes postings in HMA Ships Newcastle, Stuart, and Darwin as the Executive Officer. Highlights of his time at sea have been his four Commands of HMA Ships Ballarat, Stuart, and Anzac, and as the Commander of the Australian Amphibious Task Group; the later assignment resulting in him being appointed as the Commander of Joint Task Force 635 tasked with providing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) to Fiji following Tropical Cyclone Winston.

His shore postings to date include: Divisional Officer Australian Defence Force Academy; Headquarters Joint Operations Command (HQJOC) Plans Branch; Assistant Director Naval Officers’ Postings - Junior Officer Postings (ADNOP-JOP); Staff Officer Military Strategic Commitments; Director of Maritime Operations HQJOC, Deputy Commodore of Warfare in Fleet Headquarters, Director General Military Strategy in Strategic Policy Division, and Chief of Staff HQJOC.

He is a graduate of the US National War College and the Harvard Kennedy School.

Rear Admiral Sonter is currently posted as the Deputy Director Maritime Operations for the Commander of US Pacific Fleet.