Johan Retief

{{for|the Namibian rugby union player|Johan Retief (rugby union)}}

{{Infobox military person

| honorific_prefix = Vice Admiral

| name = Johan Frans Retief

| honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|SD*|PG|SM|MMM|SANR}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1946|03|20}}

| birth_place = Cape Town, South Africa

| death_date =

| death_place =

|image =

|allegiance = {{flag|South Africa}}

|branch = {{navy|South Africa}}

|serviceyears = 1967{{ndash}}2005

|rank = Vice Admiral

|commands = {{plainlist|

Chief of the South African Navy
Inspector General SANDF
Chief of Naval Operations
{{SAS|Jim Fouche}}

}}

|battles =

|awards = {{MilAward Stack|SDx |PG |SM |MMM |PP |SAM |GSM |Unitas |MTD40 |GoodServiceG |GoodServiceS |GoodServiceB |GOONM |AGOOMNMGC |size=x12px}}

}}

Vice Admiral Johan Retief {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|SD*|PG|SM|MMM}} was the Chief of the South African Navy from 2000 to 2005.

Retief was born on 20 March 1946 in Cape Town, matriculating at Hoërskool Jan van Riebeeck in Cape Town.{{cite web|url=http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/2005/11/11/WB/3/janoudleerders.html |title=Oudleerders erken vir besondere bydraes |newspaper=Die Burger |date=November 11, 2005 |access-date=December 1, 2014 |language=Afrikaans |trans-title=Ex Learners recognised for exceptional contributions |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402125258/http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/2005/11/11/WB/3/janoudleerders.html |archive-date=April 2, 2015 }}

Career

He attended the South African Military Academy after completing his Citizen Force training and graduated with a Bachelor of Military Science degree in 1967 and was judged the Best Student in that year.[http://www.sadf.info/Military%20Academy%20Roll%20of%20Best%20Students.html Military Academy Roll of Best Students]

He was appointed an Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer and was selected to attend the Torpedo and Anti-Submarine course at HMS Vernon in Portsmouth, United Kingdom.

He joined the Strike Craft Flotilla, initially as training officer{{cite web|url=http://www.whoswhosa.co.za/johan-retief-2294 |title=Johan Retief | Who's Who SA |publisher=Whoswhosa.co.za |date= |access-date=2012-04-29}} at the inception of the project in 1975. He was the Commissioning Captain of {{SAS|Jim Fouche}} and attended the Naval Command and Staff Course in 1981. After completing a year as Staff Officer Surface Warfare, he was appointed Director Naval Operations in 1985. After attending the Joint Staff

Course in 1988 he served as Senior Staff Officer Research at the Intelligence Division and then as Military Secretary to the Minister of Defence General Magnus Malan and Ministers Roelf Meyer and Gene Louw.

He was promoted to rear admiral and appointed as Chief of Naval Operations with effect from 1 January 1993{{cite web | url=http://m24arg02.naspers.com/argief/berigte/dieburger/1992/12/31/7/9.html | title=Vlootoperasies kry nuwe hoof | language=Afrikaans | trans-title=New Head for Navy Operations | newspaper=Die Burger | date=December 31, 1992 | access-date=December 9, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209135150/http://m24arg02.naspers.com/argief/berigte/dieburger/1992/12/31/7/9.html | archive-date=December 9, 2014 | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=http://m24arg02.naspers.com/argief/berigte/dieburger/1992/11/19/11/5.html | title=Suid-Afrikaanse Vloot neem afskeid van Hoof van Operasies | language=Afrikaans | trans-title=SA Navy bids farewell to Chief of Naval Operations | newspaper=Die Burger | date=November 19, 1992 | access-date=December 9, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209141740/http://m24arg02.naspers.com/argief/berigte/dieburger/1992/11/19/11/5.html | archive-date=December 9, 2014 | url-status=dead }} until 30 April 1996, after which he served as Inspector-General of the South African National Defence Force.

He was promoted to vice admiral and appointed Chief of the South African Navy on 1 November 2000.{{cite web|url=http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6244:fact-file-chiefs-of-the-south-african-navy-&catid=79:fact-files&Itemid=159 |title=Fact file: Chiefs of the South African Navy |publisher=DefenceWeb |date=2010-01-21 |access-date=2012-04-29}}

Awards and decorations

Adm Retief was awarded the following:{{cite journal | url=http://www.af.mil.za/publications/2011/AdAstra%20Ed1%20low%20q.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626043146/http://www.af.mil.za/publications/2011/AdAstra%20Ed1%20low%20q.pdf | url-status=dead | archive-date=26 June 2012 | title=CAF Medal parade | last1=Netshirembe|first1=Lutuno | journal=Ad Astra | year=2011 | issue=1 | pages=25}}