{"id":358097,"date":"2025-01-17T15:42:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-17T16:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=358097"},"modified":"2025-01-21T14:56:55","modified_gmt":"2025-01-21T14:56:55","slug":"bridging-oceans-building-futures-how-a-navy-captains-unique-career-embodies-the-spirit-of-aukus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=358097","title":{"rendered":"Bridging Oceans, Building Futures: How a Navy Captain\u2019s Unique Career Embodies the Spirit of AUKUS"},"content":{"rendered":"
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WASHINGTON<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 It\u2019s rare to find a naval officer with experience in two allied navies, let alone three. But for Royal Australian Navy Capt. Stephen Hussey, currently assigned to the AUKUS Integration & Acquisition (AUKUS I&A) program in Washington, D.C., a 50-year career spanning the British Royal Navy, the Royal Australian Navy, and multiple U.S. Navy exchanges has uniquely positioned him to embody the spirit of AUKUS\u2014the enhanced trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States designed to bolster regional security in the Indo-Pacific.<\/p>\n

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At 66, he is one of the few naval officers of his age still serving in uniform full-time, and he\u2019s not ready to call it quits just yet. \u201cI\u2019m extending for reserve time until I\u2019m 70 so I can continue supporting AUKUS as required,\u201d Hussey shared. \u201cThat takes me to the end of 2027, just as the first U.S. rotational submarine arrives at HMAS Stirling for Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-West) in Australia. By then, I\u2019ll have done my bit and can happily retire to play golf.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Multi-flag Submariner<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hussey grew up in Yeovil, England, a stone\u2019s throw from RNAS Yeovilton, one of the Royal Navy\u2019s principal air bases. A school trip during his childhood shaped his trajectory towards the Royal Navy. \u201cFrom the age of 11, I knew I wanted to join the Navy,\u201d he recalled. \u201cI went on a school trip where we went on Navy ships, and I loved it. Seeing sailors back then\u2014in the early 70s or even late 60s\u2014was awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n

His decision to join the submarine service was fueled by the leadership of his Royal Navy recruit school petty officer, whose demonstration of the \u201cinclusive, tight-knit\u201d submarine culture left a lasting impression.<\/p>\n

Hussey subsequently pursued a career as a submariner, serving 12 years on diesel-powered submarines and an equal amount of time on nuclear-powered ones, including the Swiftsure, Trafalgar, Resolution and Vanguard classes. He served as executive officer on the Resolution-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), HMS Resolution and HMS Renown and on the Vanguard-class SSBN HMS Vengeance. \u00a0<\/p>\n

In 2000, after completing 25 years with the Royal Navy that encompassed service during the Cold War and Falklands conflict, Hussey and his family immigrated to Australia. \u201cWe\u2019d had a two-year exchange in Sydney, and we loved it,\u201d he recalled. \u201cIt was a great place to bring up children.\u201d<\/p>\n

Once in Australia, Hussey joined the Royal Australian Navy, where he served aboard and ultimately commanded the then-new Collins-class diesel-electric submarine, HMAS Rankin. He also served on exchange with the U.S. Navy in Pearl Harbor and commanded Australia\u2019s New Entry Officer training establishment at HMAS Creswell, among other positions. His experience in both the British and Australian navies made him a natural fit for the AUKUS I&A office in Washington, D.C., where he\u2019s played a pivotal role as Australia’s capability lead since the start of AUKUS.<\/p>\n

Bridging Nations for AUKUS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hussey\u2019s background is a living representation of AUKUS\u2019 core mission: fostering deep, enduring partnerships between Australia, the UK, and the U.S. His 25 years in the British Royal Navy, 25 years in the Royal Australian Navy, and multiple U.S. exchange assignments give him a unique perspective of allied collaboration.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving served in two navies and spending time on exchange with a third introduced me to the need for, and importance of, multilateral collaboration early in my career,\u201d he explained. \u201cIt\u2019s reinforced over time the value of shared ideals, the potential for collaborative engagement, and the resulting increase in capacity and capability.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u2019s not the only submariner, however, with a multi-Navy nuclear background currently serving in the Royal Australian Navy. There are a handful of officers like him \u2013 one currently in the UK and several others in Australia \u2013 who have been involved since the early days of AUKUS. While few in number, their impact is undeniable. As Hussey explained, \u201cWe have hopefully helped support and strengthen the initial engagements between trilateral organizations and nations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Developing the Optimal Pathway<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hussey\u2019s role at AUKUS I&A centers on realizing the Royal Australian Navy\u2019s vision of operating a sovereign fleet of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines. During the consultation phase, he and AUKUS I&A’s director, then-U.S. Navy Capt. Lincoln Reifsteck, were instrumental in developing the SRF-West model and making subsequent recommendations to government on how to execute the Optimal Pathway, which is the plan for Australia to acquire a fleet of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered, submarines. SRF-West will be the U.S. and UK submarine rotational force operating out of Western Australia starting in 2027.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen AUKUS began, we knew we wanted to deliver Australia a sovereign nuclear-propelled submarine capability, but we had to figure out the optimal pathway to do so,\u201d Hussey said. \u201cHaving experience in both the UK and U.S. nuclear submarine programs, I felt that I had as good an understanding as anyone on where Australia\u2019s operational capability was coming from and where we needed to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

That dual perspective proved invaluable as Australia transitioned from the consultation, or planning phase, to the delivery, or execution phase. His current focus is growing the Royal Australian Navy\u2019s workforce through placements within the U.S. Navy. Hussey, a naval liaison officer, is working to integrate more Australians within U.S. training pipelines as Personal Exchange Program (PEP) officers. Unlike liaison officers, PEPs work directly within U.S. commands, allowing for deeper integration and knowledge transfer.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re growing our Navy people through this process\u2014PEPs are fully part of the U.S. organization they\u2019re assigned to, and they\u2019re able to take that knowledge and experience back to Australia,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is where the rubber meets the road.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shaping a \u201cNuclear Mindset\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

To safely operate conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines, Australia must develop a \u201cnuclear mindset,\u201d the foundation upon which the United States and United Kingdom built the safest, most capable and lethal nuclear navies in the world. Hussey is quick to stress that developing a \u201cnuclear mindset\u201d is just as critical as developing Australia\u2019s ability to operate and sustain a sovereign capability.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo me, a nuclear mindset isn\u2019t just behaviors\u2014it\u2019s part of your DNA,\u201d he explained. \u201cIt\u2019s not only absolute adherence to the highest engineering standards, operational rigor, and attention to detail, it\u2019s also about trust and empowerment where technical excellence is highly valued and encouraged. It\u2019s 100% no-fail\u2014there\u2019s no room for \u2018she\u2019ll be right\u2019 thinking in a nuclear environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Australia\u2019s legacy nuclear expertise, primarily centered around a research reactor in Sydney, is a good foundation to build on. But as Hussey pointed out, \u201cThat\u2019s a small enterprise compared to the scale required for a nuclear-propelled submarine fleet, and we have a lot of work to do before we realize our sovereign ambition.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Hussey\u2019s time in uniform will end in 2027, he\u2019s confident that he\u2019ll see AUKUS Pillar I come to full fruition. \u201cIf you\u2019d asked me five years ago [if Australia would have nuclear-powered submarines], I\u2019d have said I\u2019d never see it in my lifetime,\u201d he said. \u201cNow I genuinely believe I\u2019ll see it happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u2019s equally excited for the next generation of Australian naval officers who will be shaped by the AUKUS experience. \u201cThis will change the culture of our submarine service and more broadly our Navy. It\u2019s not just about building submarines\u2014it’s about changing how we think, act and operate as a maritime power.\u201d
\u00a0<\/p>\n

A Legacy of Service<\/strong><\/p>\n

As his career comes full circle, Hussey\u2019s role in AUKUS is, in many ways, a culmination of everything he\u2019s done over 50 years. He\u2019s commanded at sea and ashore, helped shape multinational collaborations, and is now playing a key role in one of the most ambitious, generation-spanning defense initiatives of his time.<\/p>\n

In recognition of Hussey\u2019s efforts in moving AUKUS Pillar I from the drawing board and into full execution, AUKUS I&A Director Rear Adm. Lincoln Reifsteck presented Hussey with a Meritorious Service Award Medal\u2014his second\u2014on behalf of Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro mid-December 2024. The award highlighted his \u201cvital input to the feasibility of the Submarine Rotational Force-West model\u201d and his role in \u201cdeveloping capability milestones crucial to the successful delivery of Australia’s sovereign submarine nuclear capability.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hussey is one of three Australian naval officers to earn multiple U.S. Navy Meritorious Service Medals. He earned his first award following his initial exchange with the U.S. Navy at Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet in 2008.<\/p>\n

Reifsteck described Hussey as \u201ca true embodiment of the AUKUS spirit,\u201d adding, \u201cHis wealth of experience, strategic insight, and ability to bridge cultural and operational divides have been nothing short of extraordinary. His leadership has been a cornerstone of our success during this critical period of implementation.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

WASHINGTON\u00a0\u2014 It\u2019s rare to find a naval officer with experience in two allied navies, let alone three. But for Royal Australian Navy Capt. Stephen Hussey, currently assigned to the AUKUS Integration & Acquisition (AUKUS I&A) program in Washington, D.C., a 50-year career spanning the British Royal Navy, the Royal Australian Navy, and multiple U.S. Navy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":358099,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-358097","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/358097","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=358097"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/358097\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":358100,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/358097\/revisions\/358100"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/358099"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=358097"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=358097"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=358097"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}