Royal Australian Navy Surgeon Honored for Exceptional Service
Royal Australian Navy Commander and orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Ian Young, has been appointed a Member in the Military Division of the Order of Australia (AM) in recognition of his exceptional service in the delivery of operational medical services to Australian Defence Force personnel.
The honor was awarded on Australia Day, January 2016.
Young's citation reads: “Commander Young provided exceptional service as a leader, surgical mentor and innovator in the delivery of specialist orthopedic medical services to the Australian Defence Force and Coalition partners. Through innovation and the application of complex surgical techniques, teams led by Commander Young were able to restore both an element of dignity and mobility to the most vulnerable and severely wounded. His commitment and expertise has ensured the best possible outcomes for casualties with significant injuries.”
Young's operational service includes deployments on Operation RELEX (HMAS Warramunga - 2001), Operation PADANG ASSIST (HMAS Kanimbla- Indonesia – 2009), Operation SLIPPER (2010 and twice in 2012), Operation RENDER ASSIST (HMAS Choules - Bougainville - 2014), Operation OKRA (Iraq – 2016) and Operation APEC ASSIST (HMAS Adelaide - Papua New Guinea – 2018).
Young originally joined the Canadian Forces (Navy) and transferred into the Royal Australian Navy in 1998. He became a fully-qualified orthopedic surgeon in January 2008, the only full-time medical specialist in the Navy at the time.
Since then, he has helped to grow and develop the Medical Specialist Program to its current workforce of 25 personnel in five specialities, including orthopedic surgery, general surgery, anesthetics, emergency medicine and intensive care medicine – an achievement he feels is an important legacy.
Throughout his career, he has enjoyed postings to HMAS Cerberus, the Submarine Underwater Medical Unit (SUMU) at HMAS Penguin, and the Maritime Role 2E Primary Casualty Reception Facility (now known as the Maritime Operational Health Unit).
He’s currently serving as Director of Specialist Medical Capability - Navy. This role has him sharing his time between managing health capability development and conducting ongoing regular clinical placements as an orthopedic surgeon at Frankston Hospital in order to maintain his clinical skills and ability to deploy at short notice.
Overall, 23 members of the Royal Australian Navy have been recognized in the 2019 Australia Day Honours List:
Member of the Order of Australia
Commodore Michael Hans Miko
For exceptional service to the Royal Australian Navy in the field of Maritime Logistics.
Captain Ian James Young
For exceptional service in the delivery of operational medical services to the Australian Defence Force on Operations RELEX, PADANG ASSIST, RENDER SAFE, OKRA and SLIPPER.
Lieutenant Commander Nathan Lindsay Cole
For meritorious service in the field of maritime communications and Information Systems support.
Chief Petty Officer Cameron Devenny
For meritorious service to the Royal Australian Navy's Boatswains Mate Workgroup and meritorious devotion to duty as Chief Petty Officer Boatswain HMAS Hobart.
Captain Mark Gregory McConnell
For meritorious service to personnel management and shaping future people capability within the Royal Australian Navy.
Captain Darren John Rae
For meritorious service in the field of Naval Aviation Engineering.
Commendation for Distinguished Service
Lieutenant Patrick Charles McGuire
For distinguished performance of duties in warlike operations as the Aviation Operations Officer for Train Advise Assist Command - South, while force assigned to Operation HIGHROAD, Afghanistan from August 2017 to February 2018.
Conspicuous Service Cross
Captain Peter Darrell Bartlett
For outstanding achievement in the field of Navy Task Group pre-operational training and preparation.
Lieutenant Commander Victoria Anne Caton
For outstanding devotion to duty in the field of Defence nursing and personnel support.
Captain Nicholas Byers Hart
For outstanding devotion to duty, dedication and achievement as the Naval Attaché to Indonesia.
Commander Rachel Elise Jones
For outstanding achievement in the application of exceptional skills as the Command Legal Officer within Headquarters Joint Task Force 633 on Operation ACCORDION from March 2017 to September 2017.
Captain Anthony Michael Klenthis
For outstanding achievement in strategic workforce planning for the Royal Australian Navy.
Commodore Antony Simon Partridge
For outstanding devotion to duty as the Director General - Defence Force Recruiting.
Captain James George Renwick
For outstanding devotion to duty as a legal officer in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve.
Commander Luke Richard Ryan
For outstanding achievement in the performance of duty as the Commanding Officer of the Royal Australian Navy Recruit School.
Captain Mark David Sirois
For outstanding achievement in the application of exceptional skills, judgment and dedication as the Commanding Officer of HMAS Newcastle while deployed on Operation MANITOU from July 2017 to November 2017.
Captain Cameron WR Steil
For outstanding achievement as the Commanding Officer HMAS Arunta, while deployed on Operation MANITOU from November 2016 to July 2017.
Conspicuous Service Medal
Lieutenant Commander Benjamin Daniel Crowther
For meritorious achievement in the in the field of Naval unmanned aircraft.
Lieutenant Commander Neil Jonathon Davenport
For meritorious achievement and devotion to duty in the field of minor war vessel capability development with the Royal Australian Navy.
Petty Officer N
For meritorious achievement in the field of Navy Expeditionary Reconnaissance and Clearance Diving training.
Lieutenant Jennifer Louise Neuhaus
For meritorious achievement in the performance of duty as the Course Implementation Officer at the School of Navigation Warfare.
Lieutenant Commander Darryl Wilton Scott
For meritorious achievement as the Senior Instructor Maritime Intelligence Wing at the Defence Force School of Intelligence.
Chief Petty Officer Andrew Spencer
For meritorious achievement in weapon safety and materiel management in the Royal Australian Navy.