Australian Navy Appoints First Female Command Warrant Officer

Australian Navy Appoints First Female Command Warrant Officer

Warrant Officer (WO) Jo Jordan was selected as the Command Warrant Officer – Divisional System (CWO-DS) and took up the role in January 2014. This appointment distinguishes her as one of four senior Warrant Officers supporting the Warrant Officer of the Navy, and also as the first female appointed as a Tier C Warrant Officer in the RAN.

 

“The Divisional System refers to the chain of command and the manner in which the welfare and dvelopment of personnel is managed. It is a vital component of our culture, and I am honoured to be able to make a contribution to its ongoing development” said WO Jordan.

Since joining the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service as a Writer in 1981, WO Jordan has been employed in a variety of human resource management roles both at sea, ashore and overseas, on active operational service and in diplomatic roles. Following promotion to WO in 2005, WO Jordan served as the Senior Personnel Manager HMAS Kuttabul, Ship’s Warrant Officer in HMAS Darwin and at the RAN Recruit School. She has attended the prestigious Australian Command Staff Course and completed the Joint Warrant Officer Course and deployed to the International Zone in Baghdad with Joint Task Force 633.

The experience gained from these positions will no doubt be invaluable as she continues to champion the Divisional System and facilitate the effectiveness and overall application of the Divisional System at the operational and strategic level in her new role.

Taking over the CWO-DS role from WO Rob Drew, WO Jordan said that her initial task was to build on the fantastic work of her friend and colleague, “my goal is to seek opportunities to improve communication flow to divisional staff and to work with the Initial Training and Leadership Management and Directorate of Navy Leadership and Ethics, to further enhance leadership training for Navy officers and sailors,” she said.

“I am proud to have been selected for the role and I welcome the chance to support Navy’s most important capability, our people,” said WO Jordan.

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Press Release, March 3, 2014, 2014; Image: Australian Navy