15 Facts About Ray Griggs

Ray Griggs served as Chief of Navy from June 2011 to June 2014, before being appointed Vice Chief of the Defence Force until his transfer to the reserve in July 2018.

Ray Griggs was Secretary of the Department of Social Services from 22 July 2021 until 10 December 2024.

Ray Griggs was born in Homebush, New South Wales, in July 1961 to James and Maureen Ray Griggs.

Ray Griggs joined the Adelaide Port Division of the Royal Australian Navy Reserve in 1978 as a radio operator.

Ray Griggs entered the Royal Australian Naval College at HMAS Creswell on a "short service commission" in 1979.

Ray Griggs then spent 12 months with the Royal Navy on HMS Jersey, where he gained his Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate.

From 1995 to 1997 Ray Griggs served as commissioning executive officer of HMAS Anzac, helping to bring the Anzac class frigates into service.

In 2003 Ray Griggs was posted as the ANZAC class capability element manager in Rockingham, Western Australia.

Ray Griggs was promoted to commodore in February 2006 and appointed as the deputy maritime commander, until assuming the position of director general navy strategic policy and futures in Navy Headquarters in September 2007.

Ray Griggs handed over command of the Navy to Vice Admiral Tim Barrett during a ceremony on 30 June 2014, and succeeded Air Marshal Mark Binskin as VCDF that day.

Ray Griggs is an honorary patron of the ACT Veterans Rugby Club.

On 15 January 2020, it was announced that Ray Griggs would be one of the members of the National Co-design Group of the Indigenous voice to government.

Ray Griggs is married to Chloe and has a son and a daughter.

Ray Griggs was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in 1997, a Commendation for Distinguished Service in 2003 for his work in the Persian Gulf, and was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2009.

Ray Griggs has been awarded the RAN's "Principal Warfare Officer" badge and the RAN's "Sea Readiness Badge" with Gold Star.