Michael Slattery (admiral)

Rear Admiral Michael John Slattery, AM (born 1954) is a Royal Australian Naval Reserve officer and lawyer. He has been a justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales since 2009 and was the Judge Advocate General of the Australian Defence Force from July 2014^[1] until July 2021.^[2]

Rear Admiral the Honourable Justice Michael John Slattery
Judge Advocate General of the Australian Defence Force
In office July 2014 (2014-07) – July 2021
Preceded by	Richard Tracey
Succeeded by	Jack Rush
Judge Advocate General of the Navy
In office 2010–2014
Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales
Incumbent
Assumed office 25 May 2009 (2009-05-25)
Personal details
Born	1954 (age 70–71) Sydney, New South Wales
Nationality	Australian
Spouse	Melissa
Alma mater	University of Sydney
Military service
Allegiance	Australia
Branch/service	Royal Australian Naval Reserve
Years of service	1990–present
Rank	Rear Admiral
Battles/wars	Iraq War
Awards	Member of the Order of Australia

Legal career

Slattery graduated from the University of Sydney with degrees in arts (1975) and law (1977). He became a barrister in 1978, Queen's Counsel in 1992 and justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 2009. He joined the Royal Australian Navy Reserve as a Lieutenant in Supply Branch – Legal in 1990. He rose through the ranks and was appointed Judge Advocate General – Navy (as commodore) in 2010 and Judge Advocate General – ADF (as rear admiral) in 2014.^[3]

Slattery has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) twice: he was appointed in the Military Division in the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours for "exceptional service to military law".^[4] In the 2022 Australia Day Honours, Slattery was again appointed a Member, this time in the General Division, for "significant service to the law, to the judiciary, and to professional legal associations".^[5]