Rear Admiral

Derek John Christian

MMM LOM (USA)
Christian (left) in 2001
Allegiance South Africa
Service/branch South African Navy
Years of service1975–date
RankRear Admiral
Commands held
AwardsMilitary Merit Medal MMM Pro Patria Medal ' Southern Africa Medal ' General Service Medal (South Africa) ' Unitas (Unity) Medal ' Medalje vir Troue Diens (Medal for Loyal Service) ' Good Service Medal ' Good Service Medal ' Legion of Merit LOM Tamandaré Medal of Merit '

Rear Admiral Derek Christian MMM LOM (USA)[1] is a South African Navy officer, currently serving as Deputy Chief of Joint Operations Division (Special Forces) as from 1 April 2016. He is the former Director of Naval Logistics.

Military career

After completing school at Grey High School in Port Elizabeth he joined the Navy in 1975. He completed a BMil degree at the Military Academy and then joined the Strike Craft flotilla before volunteering for submarines in 1980.[1]

He attended the US Naval War College from 1996 to 1997.[2] After returning to South Africa he was appointed as the Naval Attache in Washington.

He became the 17th Commandant of the South African Military Academy in 2006[3] and was promoted to rear admiral (junior grade) from May 2006.[4] In April 2009 he was posted to Naval Headquarters and assumed the post of Director Naval Logistics in 2011.[5]

He was appointed Deputy Chief of Joint Operations in April 2016 and appointed acting Chief of Joint Operations in October 2016.[6] As of 28 February 2017, he was due to retire.[7]

Honours and awards

He completed an MBA at the University of Cape Town as well as an MA in International Relations from Salve Regina University.[1] His medals include the Military Merit Medal and the Legion of Merit from the United States[1] as well as the Tamandare Medal of Merit[6]

List

Notes

  1. ↑ Portuguese: Medalha do Mérito Tamandaré

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Statement and CV of Derek Christian" (PDF). The Arms Procurement commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  2. ↑ "Graduation Program - 13 June 1997 - US Naval War College" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  3. ↑ "People". Die Burger. 15 April 2006. Archived from the original on 12 November 2014. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  4. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 November 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ↑ "Bulletin 2010" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 November 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  6. 1 2 Helfrich, Kim (20 October 2016). "Two star admiral is acting Joint Ops Chief". Defenceweb. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  7. ↑ Helfrich, Kim (2016). "New JOps deputy chief named, but no word on a new Chief" (published 2 December 2016).


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