Rear Admiral Darren Grogan, CSM, RAN

Deputy Director, Maritime Operations

Rear Admiral Darren Grogan, CSM, RAN

Rear Adm. Darren Grogan, CSM, Royal Australian Navy, joined the U.S. Pacific Fleet staff as Deputy Director, Maritime Operations, in January 2024.

Grogan was born in Melbourne, Victoria and joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1988 as a Supplementary List Officer and he is the proud son of a former senior enlisted sailor. He earned a Master of Science (Military) from the UK Defence Force run Mubarak al-Abdullah Joint Command and Staff College, Kuwait and a Master of Arts (Strategy and Policy) from the University of New South Wales.

His career as a Navigation Specialist Surface Warfare Officer includes service in all classes of His Majesty’s Australian (HMA) Fleet across all ranks. Highlights of his time at sea have been his Commands of HMA Ships Ipswich, Sirius and Success.

His shore assignments have included multiple roles in the Joint Operational space including J3 Northern Command, Military Assistant to the Chief of Joint Operations, Director and Director General Maritime Operations. Other shore assignments include Assistant Director Naval Officers’ Postings and Captain Sea Training Group. An early career highlight was when he had the honor of Instructing Navigation at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

His previous flag assignments include Director General Maritime Operations and prior to assuming his current role, Grogan was the Australian Naval Attaché to the United States in Washington DC. He had the honor of being appointed the Dean of the Corp of Foreign Naval Attachés and his time in Washington DC aligned with the announcement of the historic and strategically significant AUKUS agreement. Grogan was awarded a Conspicuous Service Medal for his duties in support of Border Protection as J3 Northern Command and the U.S. Legion of Merit (Degree of Officer) for his duties as Naval Attaché Washington.

Last Updated: 20 February 2026