Eric Eugene Johnston AO OBE

Appointed: 1 January 1981 to 1 July 1989

Date of birth: 29 July 1933

Place of birth: Shanghai, China

Parents: Captain V V Johnston

Education

• Frankston High School
• RAN College
• US Naval War College Rhode Island

Spouse: Joan (née Holland) - married 4 December 1971

Employment history

• 1950 to 1955 - Joined RAN 1947 Served on HMS Devonshire, HMAS Australia, HMAS Culgoa, HMS Maidstone and HMAS Tobruk
• 1957 to 1959 - Executive Officer (XO) NBC Damage Control Training School
• 1959 to 1962 - Executive Officer Cadet Training Ship HMAS Swan
• 1962 to 1964 - Divisional Officer Brittania Royal Naval College
  1964 to 1966 - Served on HMAS Melbourne
• 1966 to 1967 - HMAS Vendetta
• 1967 to 1968 - XO RAN Trials & Assessing Unit
• 1968 to 1969 - Recruit Training Establishment HMAS Leeuwin
• 1969 to 1970 - Commanding Officer HMAS Vendetta Vietnam
• 1971 to 1972 - Chief of Staff to SEATO Exercise Director
• 1972 to 1973 - Director of Personnel Services
• 1974 to 1975 - Naval Officer Commanding North Australia Darwin
• 1974 to 1977 - Honorary ADC to Governor-General
• 1976 to 1977 - Commanding Officer HMAS Perth (Commodore)
• 1978 to 1979 - Australian Delegate United Nations Law of the Sea Conferences New York and Geneva
• 1979 to 1980 - Director Public Information Department of Defence
• 1980 - Retired from Royal Australian Navy
• 1981 - Appointed first Honorary Colonel North West Mobile Force (NORFORCE)
• 1981 to 1989 - Appointed Administrator of the Northern Territory

Honours and awards

• Campaign Service Medal with clasp "Malay Peninsula"
• Vietnam Medal
• Defence Force Service Medal
• National Medal
• South Vietnam Campaign Medal
• 1971 - US Commander-in-Chief-Pacific Commendation
• 1971 - Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Military Division (OBE)
• 1975 - Member of the Order of Australia in the Military Division (AM)
• 1981 - Commander of the Order of St John (CStJ)
• 1984 - Promoted to Knight of Grace (KStJ)
• 1988 - Honorary Doctor of Laws (University of Queensland)
• 1988 - Officer of the Order of Australia in the General Division (AO)
• Hon Fellow Australian Society of Accountants
• Fellow Australian Institute of Management

Subsequent career

• Resided in Nightcliff NT
• Chairman of the Northern Territory Grants Commission Electrical Distribution Committee and Batchelor College
  Died 26 February 1997. State Funeral held in Darwin