Commodore Peter James Leavy, AM, CSM

Commodore Leavy transferred to the Naval Reserve in 2024 after a 40-year career in the Royal Australian Navy, specialising as a Principal Warfare Officer. He joined the Royal Australian Naval College in 1984 before transferring to the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1986 as a member of its inaugural graduating class

At sea, he served as an Officer of the Watch and Principal Warfare Officer in numerous ships before appointment as Executive Officer of HMAS Darwin (FFG 04) in 2000. He subsequently commanded HMAS Stuart (FFH 153) and HMAS Sydney (FFG 03), and has served on operations in the Solomon Islands and Iraq twice.

Ashore, he has worked across strategy and futures, led the Sea Power Centre – Australia and the Navy's Personnel Branch, and commanded the Australian Defence Force Academy. As Commodore Warfare at Fleet Headquarters, he directed the Australian Defence Force's contribution to the search for MH370 in 2014 and held senior command roles in a number of multinational exercises. He was Australian Naval Attaché to the United States from 2016 to 2018, and served as Chief of Staff at Headquarters Joint Operations Command before transitioning to the Reserves.

Elected President of the Australian Naval Institute in November 2023, he continues to serve in a range of Reserve roles supporting operations and training. He is a PhD candidate at the Australian National University, examining Australian naval decision-making and operations in the post-Cold War era. His broader research interests include naval history and strategy, medium-power navies, and alliance management by middle powers.