Doug Griffiths

Doug Griffiths, is a UNSW alumnus and past directing staff at the Australian Defence Force Academy who accumulated over 35 years’ experience as a warfare officer in the Royal Australian Navy, prior to medical discharge in October 2024. Throughout an extensive Naval career, Doug built a career focused on advising, guiding and driving organisations toward success across a variety of diverse areas, encompassing operations, personnel leadership, organisational development and international engagement. Doug has developed a passion for thorough lifelong learning, relationship building and is extremely adept at forging and developing relationships between organisations, across industry, between counties and cross culturally. 

Military background and education

With the intention of seeing the world, Doug joined the Royal Australian Navy as a reservist recruit diver while still in high school in 1988. He went on to transfer to the permanent Navy in 1989 and commenced study at the Australian Defence Force Academy and UNSW @ Canberra.  As a trainee officer, Doug read a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Management, graduating in 1991 before progressing onto professional training as a maritime warfare officer.  Doug served in a variety of Fleet units in his early years as an Officer of the Watch, prior to specialising as a Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Officer in 1995.  In the years that followed Doug served at Clearance Diving Teams, Australian and Royal Navy Mine Hunters and a variety of staff roles within the Diving and Mine Warfare specialisation.  

Operationally, Doug has served in the Southern Ocean conducting boarding operations during OP Dirk in 1997. He deployed to the Middle East in the wake of September 11 as the Officer in Charge of an Explosive Ordnance Disposal detachment and boarding team in 2001 for OP Slipper.  This was followed with various deployments all over the world:

• Iraq during OP Catalyst in 2006 as the Iraqi Liaison Officer to CTF 150 

• Afghanistan in 2009 as the Chief of Counter Improvised Device Disposal to Headquarters of the International Security Assistance Force (OP Slipper)

• Afghanistan in 2016 as the Chief of International Engagement within the US led Combined Security Transition Command during OP Highroad.  

• In 2013, he had the privilege to Command a Joint Task Force for OP Render Safe, clearing explosive remnants of war from the Soloman Islands. 

Doug was fortunate to work on exchange in the United Kingdom as the Executive Officer of a number of Royal Navy Mine Hunters (2003-05),  worked with the United States Army Pacific in the Asia Pacific Counter Improvised Disposal Command in Hawaii (2009 – 2010) and in Defence diplomatic postings as the Assistant Defence Advisor in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2017 – 2019) and the Defence Attaché in Amman, Jordan with accreditations as Defence Attaché to Beirut, Cairo and Doha (2020 – 2023).

Educational journey

A career in Defence enabled Doug the opportunity to progress his education. Initially through his first degree through the UNSW @Canberra (ADFA) in 1991 and then with a Graduate Diploma in Defence Studies through UNSW while a student at the Australian Command and Staff Course in 2011. Additionally, Doug has undertaken further studies through the University of Wollongong, achieving a Graduate Certificate in Maritime Studies Masters in 2011 and of Maritime Studies, with Distinction in 2016. 

As a member of a proud Navy family with strong ties to UNSW, Doug has a unique link with UNSW as both his wife and son, are also graduates of ADFA, both with Bachelor of Arts degrees and his wife also the proud recipient of a Masters of Commerce and Masters of Cyber Security, Strategy and Diplomacy, demonstrating a family commitment to lifelong learning.