Growing up in Victoria, Commodore Paul O’Grady joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1994 as a Surface Warfare Officer. His command appointments include Navy’s Recruit School, the Guided Missile Frigate HMAS Newcastle, the Australian Amphibious Task Group, and the RAN’s deployable Fleet Battle Staff.
Commodore O’Grady has held key appointments including Deputy Surface Force Commander and Deputy Chief of Staff, Navy Headquarters. During the COVID-19 pandemic he was the Deputy Commander of the Joint Task Force delivering support across all States and Territories, and subsequently as Chief of Staff to the three star led Defence Task Force.
Commodore O’Grady was appointed as Commodore Flotillas in Fleet Command from 2022- 24, functioning as the Royal Australian Navy’s deployable O7 level Maritime Component Commander. In that role he participated in a number of regional activities and combined multinational exercises, including senior leadership positions at RIMPAC 22 (CFMCC) and TALISMAN SABRE 23 and support to the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa.
Paul joined the INDOPACOM team in December 2024 and is accompanied by his wife Lynette, while their adult children and mischievous beagles remained in Australia. He is a graduate of the US Navy War College, the US Combined Force Maritime Component Commander, and the Australian Command and Staff Course. He holds Masters Degrees in Strategy and Policy, International Relations, and Maritime Studies, and is a terrible yet enthusiastic golfer.