24 February 2025
Navy's newest employment category has been officially launched during a ceremony at Russell Offices in Canberra.
Seventy-three officers comprised 'cohort zero' of the Military Public Affairs (MPA) Employment Category, marking a significant milestone in enhancing Navy's ability to plan and execute targeted, measurable and attributable information activities in support of Defence operations and activities.
Chief of Staff Navy Headquarters Commodore Eric Young, an advocate for the new employment category, congratulated cohort zero of Navy’s newest profession of arms.
“The MPA Employment Category is a significant step in our ability to effectively communicate with our own people and key external audiences, including the Australian public, to increase awareness of the amazing work our Navy and our people do, every day,” Commodore Young said.
“I congratulate the inaugural cohort of MPAOs [Military Public Affairs Officers] who form a core foundational capability, and look forward to seeing them develop their skills and capabilities to further support our people and all Navy and Defence outcomes.”
The MPA Employment Category replaces the Public Relations (PREL) Officers and Management Executive-Military Public Affairs Officer stream and recognises the vital role of moral power and legitimacy in public-facing information.
Head of Professional Requirements for MPAOs Captain Kelli Lunt said the new employment category would also provide a clear career pathway for Navy’s skilled strategic communications professionals.
“The foundation of the MPA Employment Category is an important milestone for our MPAOs,” Captain Lunt said.
“I am incredibly proud of the work that went into realising MPA as a standalone employment category, which will enable Navy to build a workforce of highly skilled, motivated and committed officers who effectively support commanders in the evolving information environment.”
MPAOs serve across the Defence enterprise including in fleet deployable positions, Headquarters Joint Operations Command, the 1st Joint Public Affairs Unit, Navy Headquarters, and overseas in Combined Task Force 153 in Bahrain and at United Nations Command in South Korea.
