Williams Foundation Members Luncheon: RADM Tony Dalton Romeo Introduction into Service

Romeo Introduction into Service

Rear Admiral Tony Dalton
Head Helicopters, Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems and Guided Weapons

Rear Admiral Tony Dalton

Rear Admiral Dalton grew up in Melbourne and joined the Navy in 1980 as an 18 year old direct entry aviation Midshipman.  He graduated from pilot’s course in 1981 and went on to dux his Iroquois helicopter conversion with No 5 Squadron in 1982.  Over the course of the next 15 years Dalton served on four Fleet Air Arm squadrons as well as completing a tour with the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai and a two year exchange as an instructor pilot with the Royal Navy’s 705 Squadron.  He has amassed over 5500 military helicopter flying hours and has extensive experience as a Sea King and Seahawk flight pilot (in HMA Ships Stalwart, Tobruk, Adelaide, Sydney and Newcastle), a display pilot and as a qualified flying instructor.  Dalton ultimately served as Executive Officer of 816 Squadron in 1996 and Commanding Officer of 805 Squadron in 2001.

In 1997 following his promotion to Commander, Dalton served as the aviation representative on the Naval Aviation Force Management Review.  In 1998 he was appointed as the Training Authority – Aviation, responsible for all aspects of aviation training within Navy.  In 2002, Dalton was posted to the United States Naval War College in Newport Rhode Island for Command and Staff training and promoted to Captain.  He posted as the Project Director for Navy Aviation Projects within the Defence Materiel Organisation in 2003 before serving as the Director Naval Officers’ Postings in 2007.  He was promoted to Commodore in 2008 and appointed the Commander Fleet Air Arm.  Dalton returned to the Defence Materiel Organisation in 2010 as the Director General Navy Aviation Systems and took over the position of Head Helicopter Systems Division in 2012 on promotion to Rear Admiral.

Dalton is married with two grown up daughters.  He resides in Berry on the NSW south coast, jogs slowly and enjoys cycling and bush walking when not flying.