Michael van Balen

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Michael Julian van Balen
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van Balen with Vice Admiral William Moran of the United States Navy, November 2013
Born (1961-02-16) 16 February 1961 (age 65)
AllegianceAustralia
BranchRoyal Australian Navy
Service years1978–2016
RankRear Admiral
CommandsDeputy Chief of Navy (2013–16)
HMAS Watson (2005)
HMAS Sydney (2002–03)
ConflictsIraq War
AwardsOfficer of the Order of Australia
Commendation for Distinguished Service
Officer of the Legion of Merit (United States)

Rear Admiral Michael Julian van Balen AO (born 16 February 1961) is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), who served as the Deputy Chief of Navy from 2013 to January 2016.[1]

Early life

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van Balen was born in Brisbane, Queensland, on 16 February 1961 to Adrian and Cath van Balen.[2]

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van Balen joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1978 and graduated from the Royal Australian Naval College in 1982.[1]

van Balen has served in a various billets within the Australian naval high command and United States Navy commands.[1]

He has served on board a variety of Royal Australian Navy ships including HMA ships Barbette, Brisbane, Stalwart, Stuart, Yarra, Bunbury, Derwent, Swan and the United States Navy ship USS Ranger, a Forrestal-class aircraft carrier.[1]

van Balen completed a Master of Management degree from the Australian Defence Force Academy in 2001.[1] He attended the US Naval War College in 2005.[3]

Honours and awards

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File:AUS Order of Australia (military) BAR.svg Officer of the Order of Australia 26 January 2015
File:Commendation for Distinguished Service (Aust) ribbon.png Commendation for Distinguished Service 26 January 2005[4]
File:Australian Active Service Medal ribbon.png Australian Active Service Medal
File:Iraq Medal (Australia) ribbon.png Iraq Medal
File:DFSM with Rosette x 4.png Defence Force Service Medal with 4 clasps (35–39 Years Service)
File:Australian Defence Medal (Australia) ribbon.png Australian Defence Medal
File:Us legion of merit officer rib.png Officer of the Legion of Merit (United States)

RADM van Balen has also been awarded the RAN's "Principal Warfare Officer" badge and the RAN's "Sea Readiness Badge".

References

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  4. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).