Chris Ritchie

{{Infobox military person

| name = Christopher Angus Ritchie

| image = Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie RAN.jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie (left) receives an award from Admiral Vern Clark, U.S. Chief of Naval Operations, February 2003

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1949|01|16|df=yes}}

| death_date =

| birth_place = Melbourne, Victoria

| death_place =

| placeofburial =

| nickname =

| allegiance = Australia

| branch = Royal Australian Navy

| serviceyears = 1968–2005

| rank = Vice Admiral

| servicenumber =

| unit =

| commands = Chief of Navy (2002–05)
Deputy Chief of Navy (1999)
Maritime Commander Australia (1997–99)
{{HMAS|Brisbane|D 41|6}} (1990–91)
{{HMAS|Torrens|DE 53|6}} (1986–87)
{{HMAS|Tarakan|L 129|6}} (1973–74)

| battles = Vietnam War
Gulf War

| awards = Officer of the Order of Australia
Legion of Merit (United States)

| relations =

| laterwork = Patron of the Australasian Hydrographic Society

}}

Vice Admiral Christopher Angus Ritchie {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|AO}} (born 16 January 1949) is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Navy, who served as Chief of Navy from 2002 to 2005.

Early life

Ritchie was born in Melbourne on 16 January 1949 to Angus Lachlan Ritchie and Colleen Burnice Ritchie.{{cite web|title=Vice Adm. (Rtd) Christopher Angus Ritchie|url=http://connectweb.com.au/view-biography.aspx?pid=11490&p=WWA|website=ConnectWeb|publisher=Who's Who in Australia Online|accessdate=20 April 2016}}

Naval career

Ritchie graduated from the RAN College at Jervis Bay in 1968. He received further training at sea and in the United Kingdom before undertaking a succession of seagoing appointments and a staff appointment at the NATO School of Maritime Operations at HMS DRYAD. His commands have included {{HMAS|Tarakan|L 129|6}}, {{HMAS|Torrens|DE 53|6}}, and {{HMAS|Brisbane|D 41|6}}.

During his period in command of HMAS Brisbane, the ship deployed to the Persian Gulf where she participated for the duration of the Persian Gulf War.{{cite web|url=http://www.ancors.uow.edu.au/fellows/ritchie-c.html |title=Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie AO, RANR – Ancors Fellow |publisher=Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources & Security |accessdate=20 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720060901/http://www.ancors.uow.edu.au/fellows/ritchie-c.html |archivedate=20 July 2008 }} In 1991, as a result of this service, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.

In 1992 he attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in the United Kingdom. On completion of this course he was promoted to commodore and had appointments in Naval Policy and Warfare, and Military Strategy and Concepts.{{Citation needed|date=April 2011}} In 1997 he was promoted to rear admiral and appointed as Maritime Commander Australia.{{Citation needed|date=April 2011}} He then served as Deputy Chief of Navy and Head of Capability Systems.

As a consequence of his service in these appointments, and in addition to receiving the Centenary medal,[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1127868 It's an Honour] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203010322/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1127868 |date=3 February 2020 }} – Centenary Medal – 1 January 2001
Citation: For services to Australian society through the Royal Australian Navy. he was promoted to Officer of the Order of Australia in January 2001.[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1131214 It's an Honour] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203010323/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1131214 |date=3 February 2020 }} – Officer of the Order of Australia – 26 January 2001
Citation: For distinguished service to the Australian Defence Force and the Royal Australian Navy as the Maritime Commander Australia, Deputy Chief of Navy and Head Capability Systems. He was promoted to vice admiral and appointed Commander Australian Theatre on 3 August 2001. He was the first Commander to have previously served as a Component Commander to the Headquarters. He assumed command of the Royal Australian Navy from Chief of Navy (CN) Vice Admiral David Shackleton on 3 July 2002 and retired in July 2005.

After military service

In 2018, Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie was reported as a spokesman for Shipbuilder Lurssen Australia who would be building new offshore patrol vessels.{{cite news |url=https://indaily.com.au/news/2018/04/20/saab-defence-jobs-adelaide/ |title=More Saab defence jobs for Adelaide |date=20 April 2018 |accessdate=23 April 2018 |newspaper=InDaily}}