Speaker Biography

CDRE Michael Turner, CSM & Bar

Director General Maritime Integrated Capabilities

Royal Australian Navy

Commodore Turner joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1989, graduating from the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1992 with an Electrical Engineering Degree. He conducted a number of sea postings in PERTH Class Destroyers and ANZAC Class Frigates, as a Seaman Officer and a Weapons Electrical Engineering Officer, including Command of the ANZAC Class Frigate HMAS Warramunga.   

After command, Commodore Turner was the capability support manager for the ANZAC Class Frigate, before becoming the Surface Combatant Group Capability Manager’s Representative responsible for the ADELAIDE and ANZAC Class Frigates and HOBART Class Destroyers.

Commodore Turner has extensive operational experience, serving onboard HMAS ANZAC during OPERATIONS DAMASK and SLIPPER, and then on staff at the Combined Maritime Forces in Bahrain as Plans Officer, CTF 150 staff and Director of Operations respectively supporting OPERATIONS CATALYST, SLIPPER and MANITOU. He also conducted an exchange posting with the USN Navy in Norfolk, Virginia at the Surface Warfare Development Group.

He is a graduate of the Australian Command and Staff Course and the UK Royal College of Defence Studies.

On 11 December 2020 Commodore Turner took up the role of Director General Force Exploration in Force Design Division of VCDF Group.

He is married to Alexandra, and has two sons, Nicholas and Christopher, where they all enjoy playing tennis and skiing and watching AFL, Football, Rugby and Cricket.