Warrant Officer Mark Tandy

Warrant Officer of the Navy Mark Tandy, CSC, RAN was born in Roebourne, Western Australia, went to school in Tennant Creek and Darwin in the Northern Territory and enlisted into the Royal Australian Navy as a Radio Operator in 1982. He has served as a communications operator/supervisor in a wide range of establishments and ships. Shore postings have included HMA Ships Albatross, Coonawarra, Harman, Cerberus and ADF Recruiting Unit Townsville and Strategic Head Quarters in Canberra. Sea postings have included HMA Ships Jervis bay, Canberra (II), Cessnock (II), Warrnambool (II), Dubbo (II), and Success (II).

In 2000, then Chief Petty Officer Tandy was posted to the Communications School at Cerberus as Senior Instructor Radio Frequency Management (SIRFM). As SIRFM, he trained ADF and foreign personnel in-country as well as conducting foreign training courses in the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand.

Promoted to Warrant Officer in December 2002, he assumed the challenging position of Operations Officer Naval Communications Area Master Station Australia (NAVCAMSAUS) during Gulf War II.

In 2004, Warrant Officer Tandy joined the Royal Australian Naval College at Creswell as one of two course instructors facilitating the Chiefs' Leadership and Development Program (CLDP). During his posting to Creswell Warrant Officer Tandy received a Commanding Officer's Commendation and a Navy Systems Command Quarterly Contribution Award.

In 2005, Warrant Officer Tandy was selected to participate in Exercise LongLook and conducted a four month exchange with the Royal Navy (RN). Employed as a Lead Instructor at the Command and Training Group (CTG) HMS Collingwood, Warrant Officer Tandy gained valuable experience in how the RN prepares their Senior Rates for Command and Leadership roles.

Warrant Officer Tandy attended the Single Service Component of the Command and Staff course held at Weston Creek in 2007. He holds a Masters in Maritime Studies.

On completion of the Command and Staff course Warrant Officer Tandy was posted to the Directorate of Sailors' Career Management as the Officer-in-Charge of the Submarine and Seaman categories Cell.

Warrant Officer Tandy was selected as Command Warrant Officer Career Management in August 2008 but did not take up the position as he was selected to be the sixth Warrant Officer of the Navy (WON) in October 2008. Warrant Officer Tandy assumed the Warrant Officer of the Navy appointment on 19 December 2008.

Warrant Officer of the Navy Tandy was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in 2011.