General Gwyn commissioned into the Royal Marines in 1990. His time as a junior officer was spent in the Commando Logistics Regiment, competing for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines in cross-country skiing and on operations in Northern Ireland with 42 Commando RM.

A graduate of the Advanced Command and Staff Course at the Military College Shrivenham, where he completed a master’s degree in Defence Studies in 2004, he went on to serve as a Lieutenant Colonel overseeing global operations in PJHQ, before a Commanding Officer appointment in 2009. On completion of his command tour he was promoted to Colonel and deployed for 12 months to Afghanistan, for which he was awarded an OBE, returning to the UK in 2012 as the Military Assistant to the Prime Minister in No 10 Downing Street.

After two years in No. 10, he completed the Higher Command and Staff Course, was promoted to Brigadier and took up a 3* civilian appointment in the Cabinet Office as Deputy National Security Advisor for Conflict, Stability and Defence. In April 2017 he moved back to the military and took command of 3 Commando Brigade, conducting exercises and overseeing operational deployments around the world. He was promoted to Major General in January 2019, in which rank he served first in the Royal Navy as the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff and subsequently commanded a tri-service organisation.

In August 2022 he was appointed Vice Chief of the Defence Staff and promoted to General. Since August 2024, General Gwyn has been the Strategic Advisor to the Secretary of State for Defence. In this role, he has negotiated the UK’s Defence Agreement with Germany and is cohering the UK’s strategic partnership with Norway. He lives with his wife and children and enjoys a range of activities including sailing, skiing and creative writing.

First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff
The First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy and a member of the Defence Council. He is responsible to the Secretary of State and the Chief of Defence Staff for the fighting effectiveness, efficiency and morale of the Naval Service.

As a member of the Defence Council, the First Sea Lord supports the Secretary of State in the management and direction of the Armed Forces through prerogative and statutory powers. As a member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, he advises CDS on maritime strategy and policy. He has a collective responsibility for providing strategic direction to the department, managing performance and ensuring that the Royal Navy delivers the required outputs.

Vice Admiral (VADM) Mark Hammond AO RAN joined the RAN in 1986 as an electronics technician before commissioning as a naval officer in 1988. Graduating from the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) in 1990, VADM Hammond served in frigates before volunteering for submarine service and qualifying in the Oberon Class. He is a dual qualified officer, graduating from the RAN Principal Warfare Officers Course, the Netherlands and United States Navy Submarine Command courses, and Australia’s Senior Submariner.

VADM Hammond served extensively in Collins Class submarines. He also gained international experience in French, British and US nuclear attack submarines and Dutch conventional submarines. His Command of HMAS Farncomb included submarine operations across the Indo-Pacific. Subsequent shore postings included the Assistant Naval Attaché in Washington DC, Submarine Capability and Joint Exercise Staff roles, and 12 months as the Chief of Staff to the Chief of the Defence Force.

On promotion to Commodore, VADM Hammond was appointed Director General Maritime Operations. He then returned to the United States as the liaison officer to the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was awarded the United States Legion of Merit (Officer) for his performance in this role and, in 2018, was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for exceptional service to the Australian Defence Force in senior command and staff roles.

On promotion to Rear Admiral, VADM Hammond assumed duties as the Deputy Chief of Navy in 2018, and in late 2020, was appointed Commander of the Australian Fleet. In these demanding appointments, VADM Hammond first oversaw substantial workforce growth. He then focused on enhancing the resilience and warfighting capability of Navy’s people and Fleet during the COVID19 pandemic.

VADM Hammond assumed Command as Chief of Navy on 7 July 2022. He is the first RAN Recruit School and ADFA graduate to do so, and only the second submarine commanding officer to be appointed to the role. In 2023, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to the Royal Australian Navy in senior command roles. In April 2024, he was awarded the Republic of Korea’s Order of National Security Merit Gukseon Medal for outstanding and meritorious services rendered to the Republic of Korea. In October 2024, VADM Hammond was honoured with the Republic of Singapore’s Meritorious Service Medal – Military (Pingat Jasa Gemilang – Tentera) for exceptionally distinguished performance in furthering links between Australia and Singapore.

VADM Hammond holds a Bachelor of Science, Master of Management, Master of Maritime Studies and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program.

Away from Navy, VADM Hammond's interests include antique wooden boats, cricket, rugby league (South Sydney Rabbitohs), AFL (Port Adelaide), chess and submarine warfare in World War II. He is the Australian Patron of the Australia–America Veterans Association.

Paul was born in Bunbury and raised in the small south west town of Burekup.

He entered the Royal Australian Navy in 1978 and served in the military for 26 years eventually qualifying as a Navy Clearance Diver, serving in the counter terrorist squadron of the Special Air Service Regiment and deployed on operations to Iraq on two occasions.

In the course of his military career Paul commanded a Clearance Diving Team, a navy patrol boat and the Navy’s submarine escape and rescue service. He was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross and Commendations from both the Land and Maritime Commanders before leaving the service in early 2004.

Paul and his wife Gillian were self-employed in small business when he was approached to consider pre-selection for WA Labor in the lead up to the Peel by-election in late 2006.

Paul was elected to the seat of Peel in February 2007, then elected to the new seat of Warnbro in September 2008 and re-elected to that seat in 2013, 2017 and 2021.

Paul served in the Shadow Ministry after WA Labor lost office in 2008 as Shadow Minister for Tourism, Local Government, Education, Citizenship and Multicultural Interests, Corrective Services and Defence Issues.

In March 2017 Paul was appointed as a Minister in the new McGowan Government, with the portfolios for Tourism, Racing and Gaming, Small Business, Defence Issues, Citizenship and Multicultural Interests.

Following the State Election in 2021, Paul was appointed as the Minister for Police, Road Safety, Defence Industry and Veterans Issues.

In December 2023, Paul was appointed as the Minister for Police, Corrective Services, Racing and Gaming; Defence Industry and Veterans Issues.