First officer of Polynesian descent to command Australian Warships at sea
In a recent Change of Command Ceremony AWWQ Board member, Narelle Stanton welcomed and congratulated Commander Rosemarie Apikotoa, RAN, on assuming command of HMAS Moreton.
CMDR Apikotoa is the first officer of Pacific Islander heritage to assume command of an RAN establishment.
CMDR Rose Apikotoa embarked on her illustrious career as a Maritime Warfare Officer, joining the Royal Australian Navy on January 20, 1997, through the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA), where she pursued undergraduate and military studies. She successfully graduated at the end of 1999 with a UNSW Bachelor of Arts Degree, majoring in History and Geography and minoring in Information Systems.
Since then, CMDR Apikotoa has served on various Warships, including HMA Ships Anzac, Bunbury, Gladstone, Norman, Gascoyne, Sydney, Newcastle, and Parramatta. Notably, she holds the distinction of being the first officer of Polynesian descent to attain an Ocean Navigation Certificate and Bridge Warfare Certificate, enabling her to command Australian Warships at sea.
Throughout her remarkable career, CMDR Apikotoa achieved notable milestones, such as successfully circumnavigating Australia, patrolling Australian fisheries, and mentoring female rugby players through Navy and ADF Rugby. Additionally, she deployed to the Middle East in Operation Catalyst Rotation 18, serving as the Deputy Operations Officer on board the ANZAC class frigate, HMAS Parramatta, in 2008.
For over a decade, CMDR Apikotoa has contributed significantly to the ADF’s Intelligence and Cyber Warfare domain. Her journey began in 2011 as the Deputy Director Navy Intelligence Capability. During this time, she undertook part-time studies, culminating in the award of a Master’s degree in Business from UNSW in 2013. CMDR Apikotoa played a pivotal role in enhancing Navy’s Intelligence and Cyber Warfare Personnel capability, earning a Gold Level Chief of Navy commendation for her dedication in this role, as well as her enduring commitment to Navy rugby spanning 15 years.
CMDR Apikotoa’s pursuit of excellence continued, and she graduated from the Australian Command and Staff Course in December 2020 with a Masters in Defence Studies and Strategy from ANU. Her exceptional career and dedication to duty make her an outstanding leader, and we look forward to her continued success in her new command role aboard HMAS Moreton, remarked Natelle Stanton .
