View source for Stuart Mayer

{{Short description|Senior Royal Australian Navy officer}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox military person
| name          = Stuart Campbell Mayer
| image         = Rear Adm. Stuart Mayer on USS Independence 14 July 2014 (cropped).jpg
| image_size    = 
| alt           = 
| caption       = Vice Admiral Stuart Mayer in December 2021
| nickname      = 
| birth_date    = {{birth based on age as of date|56|2022|08|23}}<ref name="FR"/>
| birth_place   = 
| death_date    = 
| death_place   = 
| placeofburial = 
| allegiance    = Australia
| branch        = [[Royal Australian Navy]]
| serviceyears  = 1984–2022
| rank          = [[Vice admiral (Australia)|Vice Admiral]]
| servicenumber = 
| unit          = 
| commands      = Deputy Commander [[United Nations Command]] (2019–21)<br/>Head Force Design (2018–19)<br/>[[Fleet Command (Australia)|Fleet Command]] (2014–18)<br/>{{nowrap|[[Operation Astute|International Stabilisation Force]] (2009–10)}}<br/>{{HMAS|Anzac|FFH 150|6}} (2007–09)<br/>{{HMAS|Canberra|FFG 02|6}} (2002–04)
| battles       = [[Gulf War]]<br/>[[International Force East Timor]]<br/>[[Iraq War]]<br/>[[Operation Astute]]
| awards        = [[Officer of the Order of Australia]]<br/>[[Conspicuous Service Cross (Australia)|Conspicuous Service Cross]] & [[Medal bar|Bar]]<br/>[[Commendation for Distinguished Service]]<br/>[[Medal of Merit (East Timor)|Medal of Merit]] (Timor-Leste)<br/>[[Officer of the Legion of Merit]] (United States)<br/>[[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]] (United States)
| relations     = 
| laterwork     = 
}}
[[Vice admiral (Australia)|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, HMAS Creswell|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 [[Operation Astute|International Stabilisation Force]] (2009–10), and deployed on operations to the [[Gulf War|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 the Defence Force (Australia)|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 (New South Wales)|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|Gulf war]]."<ref name=Career>[http://www.cpf.navy.mil/rimpac/2012/bios/stuart-mayer.pdf Commodore Stuart Campbell Mayer, CSC, RAN – Combined Forces Maritime Component Commander], 2012</ref>
 
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.<ref name=Career/>
 
In January 2000 Mayer was promoted to [[Commander (rank)|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.<ref name=Career/>
 
Mayer left HMAS ''Canberra'' in July 2004 and was promoted to the rank of [[Captain (naval)|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.<ref name=Commendation>[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1133622 Commendation for Distinguished Service], 2006</ref> Mayer returned to MHQ in October 2005, resuming duties as Chief Staff Officer (Operations).<ref name=Career/> His "outstanding achievement" while with MHQ led to the award of a [[Conspicuous Service Cross (Australia)|Conspicuous Service Cross]] (CSC) in 2008.<ref name=CSC>[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1138044 Conspicuous Service Cross], 2008</ref>

===Senior commands===
[[File:Australian Fleet Rear Adm. Stuart Mayer RIMPAC Exercise 2014 with Cmdr. Joseph Gagliano.jpg|left|thumb|Rear Admiral Mayer, as Commander of the Australian Fleet, aboard USS Independence, 2014]]
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 (rank)|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 [[Medal bar|Bar]] to his CSC and the East Timorese [[Medal of Merit (East Timor)|Medal of Merit]].<ref>{{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=[[Governor-General of Australia|Office of the Governor-General of Australia]]|accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="Australian Government, Department of Defence">{{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}}</ref>

On Mayer's return to Australia in April 2010, he assumed duties as Commodore Flotillas at Fleet Headquarters.<ref name=Career/> Promoted to [[Rear admiral (Australia)|rear admiral]], he was appointed [[Commander Australian Fleet]] on 12 June 2014.<ref name=NavyNews>[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]</ref> 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]].<ref name=AO>{{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=[[Governor-General of Australia|Office of the Governor-General of Australia]] |date=26 January 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2017 }}</ref> 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 the Defence Force (Australia)|Vice Chief of Defence Force Group]] from March.<ref name="navy bio">{{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}}</ref>

In April 2019 it was announced that Mayer would be appointed Deputy Commander [[United Nations Command]] in South Korea later in the year.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref name="Stripes">{{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 (newspaper)|Stars and Stripes]]|date=30 April 2019|accessdate=15 July 2019}}</ref> He relinquished Head Force Design in June and, promoted [[Vice admiral (Australia)|vice admiral]] on 18 July,<ref name="navy bio"/> succeeded Lieutenant General [[Wayne Eyre]] of the [[Canadian Army]] as Deputy Commander on 28 July.<ref name="Yonhap">{{cite news|title=Australian Admiral Assumes UNC Deputy Chief Duty|url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20190728002600315|publisher=[[Yonhap|Yonhap News Agency]]|date=28 July 2019|accessdate=31 July 2019}}</ref> He was the second non-American (after Eyre) and first Australian to hold the post in the 69-year history of United Nations Command.<ref name="Stripes"/><ref name="Yonhap"/> 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]].<ref name="navy bio"/><ref>{{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}}</ref>

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]].<ref name="navy bio"/><ref name="UNKbio">{{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}}</ref>

==Post-military career==
Following his retirement from the RAN in 2022, Mayer was appointed a partner in the consulting division at [[Ernst & Young]] Australia.<ref name="FR">{{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}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Mayer is married to Susanne, with whom he has four children. Mayer's interests include rugby, sailing, bushwalking and kayaking.<ref name="UNKbio"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons category|Stuart Mayer}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=Rear Admiral [[Tim Barrett (admiral)|Tim Barrett]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Commander Australian Fleet]]|years=2014–2018}}
{{s-aft|after=Rear Admiral [[Jonathan Mead]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Air Vice Marshal [[Mel Hupfeld]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Head Force Design|years=2018–2019}}
{{s-aft|after=Air Vice Marshal [[Steve Roberton]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Lieutenant General [[Wayne Eyre]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Deputy Commander [[United Nations Command]]|years=2019–2021}}
{{s-aft|after=Lieutenant General [[Andrew Harrison (British army officer)|Andrew Harrison]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Fleet Commander of the Royal Australian Navy}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mayer, Stuart}}
[[Category:Australian military personnel of the Gulf War]]
[[Category:Australian military personnel of the International Force for East Timor]]
[[Category:Australian military personnel of the Iraq War]]
[[Category:Australian recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United States)]]
[[Category:Deakin University alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Officers of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of Australia]]
[[Category:People educated at North Sydney Boys High School]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Commendation for Distinguished Service]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Conspicuous Service Cross (Australia)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Meritorious Unit Citation]]
[[Category:Royal Australian Navy admirals]]
[[Category:University of New South Wales alumni]]
[[Category:University of Southern Queensland alumni]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]