Deb Butterworth

Debbie Ann Butterworth, OAM, CSM & Bar is the most senior sailor of the Royal Australian Navy, having been appointed Warrant Officer of the Navy in November 2019.[1][2][3]

Deb Butterworth
BornLilydale, Victoria
AllegianceAustralia
Service/branchRoyal Australian Navy
Years of service1989–present
RankWarrant Officer
Commands heldWarrant Officer of the Navy
Battles/warsIraq War
War in Afghanistan
Operation Okra
AwardsMedal of the Order of Australia
Conspicuous Service Medal & Bar

Early life

Butterworth was born in Lilydale, Victoria, and for the first ten years of her life she travelled extensively. She then settled into school life in Perth, Western Australia.

Butterworth enlisted into the Royal Australian Navy as a Stores Naval Sailor in 1989. Butterworth has enjoyed serving in various platforms as a Stores Sailor. These include HMA Ships Jervis Bay, Success, Sydney, Manoora, Newcastle, and a short time in Parramatta.

In 2003 and 2005, then Chief Petty Officer Butterworth deployed in HMAS Newcastle on Operation Catalyst, the Australian assistance to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Iraq. Butterworth was awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM) in 2006 in recognition of her service in Newcastle.

Promoted to warrant officer in July 2007, Butterworth returned to Western Australia to take up the role of Logistic Services Manager in Joint Logistic Unit (West). In 2009, Butterworth joined Sea Training Group Major Fleet Units. The role of this group is to facilitate collective training and conduct unit-level assessment of RAN Fleet Units. Butterworth left logistics roles after being awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for meritorious service to the Royal Australian Navy in the field of logistics management in 2012.

Butterworth assumed the role of the Ship's Warrant Officer in HMAS Success in December 2011.[4] Success was an integral part of Operation Southern Indian Ocean, an activity to support the Australian Maritime Safety Authority to search for Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 in April 2014. In 2014 Butterworth deployed to the Middle East and, upon return to Australia, she was awarded a Bar to her CSM in recognition of her service in Success.

In July 2017 Butterworth was appointed to the role of Command Warrant Officer Training Force until July 2019 when she guided a team to create the Mariner Development Program, to continue to develop mariners and warfighters while undertaking specialist employment training.

In November 2019 Butterworth was appointed as the Royal Australian Navy's ninth Warrant Officer of the Navy. Butterworth holds a Master of Military and Defence Studies.

When at home Butterworth enjoys living in Canberra and her greatest escape is a leisurely weekend cycle.

References
  1. A rewarding career leads to appointment as ninth Warrant Officer of the Navy, LEUT Dave Devlin (author), LSIS James McDougall (photographer), Navy Daily/News, 2019-11-22
  2. Royal Australian Navy woman appointed as most senior sailor, Media Release, Minister of Defence (Australia), 2019-11-22
  3. Top sailor wants to feed minds hungry for ‘why’, Rosie Lewis, The Australian, 2019-11-21
  4. Australia: ANZAC Battle Tankers March as One, NavalToday, 2013-04-25, accessed 2020-01-17
Military offices
Preceded by
Gary Wight		 Warrant Officer of the Navy
2019–present		 Incumbent
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