Stuart Mayer

{{Infobox military person

| name = Stuart Campbell Mayer

| image = Rear Adm. Stuart Mayer on USS Independence 14 July 2014 (cropped).jpg

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| caption = Vice Admiral Stuart Mayer in December 2021

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|56|2022|08|23}}

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| allegiance = Australia

| branch = Royal Australian Navy

| serviceyears = 1984–2022

| rank = Vice Admiral

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| commands = Deputy Commander United Nations Command (2019–21)
Head Force Design (2018–19)
Fleet Command (2014–18)
{{nowrap|International Stabilisation Force (2009–10)}}
{{HMAS|Anzac|FFH 150|6}} (2007–09)
{{HMAS|Canberra|FFG 02|6}} (2002–04)

| battles = Gulf War
International Force East Timor
Iraq War
Operation Astute

| awards = Officer of the Order of Australia
Conspicuous Service Cross & Bar
Commendation for Distinguished Service
Medal of Merit (Timor-Leste)
Officer of the Legion of Merit (United States)
Meritorious Service Medal (United States)

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}}

Vice Admiral Stuart Campbell Mayer, {{postnominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AO|CSC1}} (born {{circa}} 1965) is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Navy. He joined the navy via the Royal Australian Naval College at HMAS Creswell in 1984 and qualified as a Principal Warfare Officer in 1994. He commanded {{HMAS|Canberra|FFG 02|6}} (2002–04), {{HMAS|Anzac|FFH 150|6}} (2007–09) and the International Stabilisation Force (2009–10), and deployed on operations to the Persian Gulf, East Timor, and the Arabian Sea during the Iraq War. He served as Commander Australian Fleet from 2014 to 2018, Head Force Design within the Vice Chief of Defence Force Group from 2018 to 2019, and Deputy Commander United Nations Command, based in South Korea, from 2019 to 2021. He retired from the navy in 2022 and was appointed a partner in Ernst & Young's consulting division.

Naval career

=Early career=

Mayer completed the Higher School Certificate in 1983 at North Sydney Boys High School. He joined the Royal Australian Naval College in 1984 as a seaman specialist, and on completion of initial training Mayer gained Bridge Watch-keeping Certificates on board {{HMAS|Gladstone|FCPB 216|6}} and {{HMAS|Darwin|FFG 04|6}}. Mayer completed training as an Air Intercept Controller and returned to sea in HMA ships {{HMAS|Canberra|FFG 02|2}} and {{HMAS|Sydney|FFG 03|6}}, including service aboard Sydney "as Air Intercept Control Officer and Boarding Officer during that ship's operational deployment to the Persian Gulf during the 1990–91 Gulf war."[https://web.archive.org/web/20130309053227/http://www.cpf.navy.mil/rimpac/2012/bios/stuart-mayer.pdf Commodore Stuart Campbell Mayer, CSC, RAN – Combined Forces Maritime Component Commander], 2012

In 1993 Mayer commenced training as a Principal Warfare Officer (Direction) and graduated with distinction in 1994. As Direction Officer, Mayer served aboard both {{HMAS|Canberra|FFG 02|6}} and {{HMAS|Adelaide|FFG 01|6}}, undertaking a wide range of regional deployments and operations, including service as the Task Unit Operations Officer during Operation Stabilise – ADF operations in support of East Timorese independence.

In January 2000 Mayer was promoted to commander and posted to the United States as the first ADF Liaison officer to US Joint Forces Command based in Norfolk, Virginia. Mayer returned from the United States in mid-2002 and assumed command of HMAS Canberra, continuing an association with that ship that included service in every rank from trainee to commanding officer.

Mayer left HMAS Canberra in July 2004 and was promoted to the rank of captain and assumed the position of Chief Staff Officer (Operations) at Maritime Headquarters (MHQ) Australia in January 2005. While posted to MHQ, Mayer was seconded to the Australian Maritime Deployable HQ staff for duties as Commander Task Group 58.1 – Northern Arabian Gulf Maritime Security Operations Commander. Mayer was awarded a Commendation for Distinguished Service for his "distinguished performance" in this role.[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1133622 Commendation for Distinguished Service], 2006 Mayer returned to MHQ in October 2005, resuming duties as Chief Staff Officer (Operations). His "outstanding achievement" while with MHQ led to the award of a Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) in 2008.[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1138044 Conspicuous Service Cross], 2008

=Senior commands=

File:Australian Fleet Rear Adm. Stuart Mayer RIMPAC Exercise 2014 with Cmdr. Joseph Gagliano.jpg

In January 2007 Mayer attended the Australian Defence College and read for a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies. He assumed command of the frigate {{HMAS|Anzac|FFH 150|6}} in December 2007 and completed deployments to exercise RIMPAC and to Southeast Asia as the Commander of the RAN Task Group. Mayer left Anzac in mid-2009, was promoted to commodore and appointed Commander of the multi-national International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in East Timor on 24 October 2009. The first non-army officer to hold this command, Mayer demonstrated "inspirational leadership and initiative, and outstanding dedication to duty in [a] stable but fragile security environment" during his six-month deployment, for which he was awarded a Bar to his CSC and the East Timorese Medal of Merit.{{cite web|url=http://gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/honours/ad/ad2011/Media%20Notes%20CSC%20and%20Bar%20%28final%29.pdf|title=Bar to the Conspicuous Service Cross|publisher=Office of the Governor-General of Australia|accessdate=27 January 2017}}{{cite web|author=Australian Government, Department of Defence |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/op/easttimor/gallery/2010/20100225/index.htm |title=Outgoing Commander highlights East Timor Defence Force Development |publisher=Defence.gov.au |date= |accessdate=21 August 2014}}

On Mayer's return to Australia in April 2010, he assumed duties as Commodore Flotillas at Fleet Headquarters. Promoted to rear admiral, he was appointed Commander Australian Fleet on 12 June 2014.[http://news.navy.gov.au/en/Jun2014/Fleet/1128/Fleet-Commander-farewelled-as-new-Admiral-takes-the-weight.htm#.U5mCBfmSyPZ Fleet Commander farewelled as new Admiral takes the weight] In recognition of his "selfless devotion to duty and outstanding achievement" in these senior roles, Mayer was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2017 Australia Day Honours.{{cite web |url=http://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/honours/ad/ad2017/slkh83xzcb/Military%20Division%20of%20the%20Order%20of%20Australia%20Media%20Notes.pdf |title=Military Division of the Order of Australia Media Notes |work=Australia Day 2017 Honours List |publisher=Office of the Governor-General of Australia |date=26 January 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2017 }} He relinquished command of the Australian Fleet to Rear Admiral Jonathan Mead in January 2018 and was appointed as Head Force Design within the Vice Chief of Defence Force Group from March.{{cite web|url=http://www.navy.gov.au/biography/rear-admiral-stuart-campbell-mayer|title=Vice Admiral Stuart Campbell Mayer|publisher=Royal Australian Navy|accessdate=20 January 2018}}

In April 2019 it was announced that Mayer would be appointed Deputy Commander United Nations Command in South Korea later in the year.{{cite news|title=Australian Defence Force Officer Appointed to Deputy Commander United Nations Command Headquarters in Korea|url=https://news.defence.gov.au/media/media-releases/australian-defence-force-officer-appointed-deputy-commander-united-nations|work=Defence News|publisher=Department of Defence|date=30 April 2019|accessdate=15 July 2019}}{{cite news|title=Australian Rear Admiral Named Deputy Commander of UN Command in S. Korea|url=https://www.stripes.com/australian-rear-admiral-named-deputy-commander-of-un-command-in-s-korea-1.579000|newspaper=Stars and Stripes|date=30 April 2019|accessdate=15 July 2019}} He relinquished Head Force Design in June and, promoted vice admiral on 18 July, succeeded Lieutenant General Wayne Eyre of the Canadian Army as Deputy Commander on 28 July.{{cite news|title=Australian Admiral Assumes UNC Deputy Chief Duty|url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20190728002600315|publisher=Yonhap News Agency|date=28 July 2019|accessdate=31 July 2019}} He was the second non-American (after Eyre) and first Australian to hold the post in the 69-year history of United Nations Command. Mayer relinquished the post on 15 December 2021. For his work with United Nations Command, Mayer was awarded an Officer of the United States Legion of Merit.{{cite news|title=Officer Presented with Award at Farewell|url=https://news.defence.gov.au/service/officer-presented-award-farewell|work=Defence News|publisher=Department of Defence|date=16 December 2021|access-date=21 December 2021}}

Mayer is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New South Wales, a Master of Arts from Deakin University, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern Queensland.{{cite web|title=Deputy Commander UNK: Vice Admiral Stuart Campbell Mayer|url=https://www.usfk.mil/Leadership/Article-View/Article/1918904/deputy-commander-unc/|publisher=United States Forces Korea|accessdate=31 July 2019}}

Post-military career

Following his retirement from the RAN in 2022, Mayer was appointed a partner in the consulting division at Ernst & Young Australia.{{cite news|first=Edmund|last=Tadros|title=Former Vice Admiral Joins EY as Partner|url=https://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/former-navy-vice-admiral-joins-ey-as-partner-20220823-p5bc0x|newspaper=Australian Financial Review|date=23 August 2022|access-date=16 September 2022}}