Johan Retief

For the Namibian rugby union player, see Johan Retief (rugby union).

Vice Admiral Johan Retief SD & Bar PG SM MMM was the Chief of the South African Navy from 2000 to 2005.

Vice Admiral Johan Frans Retief SD & Bar PG SM MMM SAN (Rtd)
Born	(1946-03-20) 20 March 1946 (age 79) Cape Town, South Africa
Allegiance	South Africa
Branch	South African Navy
Years of service	1967–2005
Rank	Vice Admiral
Commands	Chief of the South African Navy Inspector General SANDF Chief of Naval Operations SAS Jim Fouche
Awards

Retief was born on 20 March 1946 in Cape Town, matriculating at Hoërskool Jan van Riebeeck in Cape Town.^[1]

Career

He attended the South African Military Academy after completing his Citizen Force training and graduated with a Bachelor of Military Science degree in 1967 and was judged the Best Student in that year.^[2]

He was appointed an Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer and was selected to attend the Torpedo and Anti-Submarine course at HMS Vernon in Portsmouth, United Kingdom.

He joined the Strike Craft Flotilla, initially as training officer^[3] at the inception of the project in 1975. He was the Commissioning Captain of SAS Jim Fouche and attended the Naval Command and Staff Course in 1981. After completing a year as Staff Officer Surface Warfare, he was appointed Director Naval Operations in 1985. After attending the Joint Staff Course in 1988 he served as Senior Staff Officer Research at the Intelligence Division and then as Military Secretary to the Minister of Defence General Magnus Malan and Ministers Roelf Meyer and Gene Louw.

He was promoted to rear admiral and appointed as Chief of Naval Operations with effect from 1 January 1993^[4][5] until 30 April 1996, after which he served as Inspector-General of the South African National Defence Force.

He was promoted to vice admiral and appointed Chief of the South African Navy on 1 November 2000.^[6]

Awards and decorations

Internal Audit Practitioner
(Qualification)

Black on Thatch beige, Embossed Internal Audit Investigation

Adm Retief was awarded the following:^[7]

• Southern Cross Decoration (SD & Bar)
• iPhrothiya yeGolide (Golden Protea) (PG)
• Southern Cross Medal (1975) (SM)
• Military Merit Medal (MMM)
• Pro Patria Medal
• Southern Africa Medal
• General Service Medal (South Africa)
• Unitas (Unity) Medal
• Medalje vir Troue Diens (Medal for Loyal Service) (40 Year Clasp)
• Good Service Medal (Gold (30 Years))
• Good Service Medal (Silver (20 Years))
• Good Service Medal (Bronze (10 Years))
• Order of Naval Merit (Grand Officer) ^[a] (Brazil)
• Order of May (Naval Merit) (Grand Cross) ^[b] (Argentina)

See also

• List of South African military chiefs
• South African Navy

Notes

1. Portuguese: Ordem do Mérito Naval - Grande-Oficial
2. Spanish: Orden de Mayo (Al Mérito Naval) - Gran Cruz