Ben first met Lee Goddard on the high seas, chasing North Korean drug smugglers.  Tim’s history with Lee goes back a bit further – to his very first days in the military as a young cadet at the Australian Defence Force Academy, where Lee was the Academy Cadet Captain. 

Since graduating from ADFA, Lee has excelled in pretty much endeavour he has turned his hand to, from crewing the tall ship, The Young Endeavour, through to command of warships on operations in places like the South China Sea and the Persian Gulf, and then to running the entire Maritime Border Command. 

After 34 years in the Royal Australian Navy, Lee concluded his fulltime military service as a rear admiral and has now transitioned out of the military and is working within Andrew Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation.

We talk life onboard a Navy warship and leadership challenges as well as 'pranging' a ship.

Intelligence Summary (INTSUM)

05:15       Lee’s early life and inspiration to join the Navy – including this stirring recruiting commercial!

08:00       Ben asks the dumb question – does Lee get seasick?! (Spoiler alert – Ben does)

09:40       What has Lee been able to take from his military service and apply in his current role?

12:00       Lee’s favourite ‘Navy moments’...

16:00       ...including going from looking in awe at the Captain of a ship – to being one!

17:30       Lee’s time on the Young Endeavour, including reflections on the amazing young Australians he worked with, and a number of serious incidents

23:45       What’s life like on board a warship?

26:30       The attachment that crews get to their ships

28:45       Lee’s recollection of the Pong Su boarding – from the bridge as XO of the HMAS Stuart

34:00       One of Lee’s more interesting jobs as ship’s XO – hotel manager!

37:00       Lee’s command of the HMAS Parramatta and winning the Duke of Gloucester Cup for the best performing ship – literally, the ‘Pride of the Fleet!’

40:45       Lee’s reflections on ‘the other side of Lake Burley-Griffin’ – his time within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet

43:10       Lee then served as Commander of Maritime Border Command and Operation Sovereign Borders

46:50       The most important question Ben can think of – has Lee ever crashed a ship?!  Including Lee’s reflections of the pressure of trying to reverse parallel park a warship in Sydney Harbour!

49:00       Lee’s post-military role with the Minderoo Foundation, including his role in addressing community resilience against natural disasters

54:00       What makes a resilient community? Minderoo’s perspective

57:45       What is Lee most proud of?  In short, not what he achieved, but how he achieved it

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External Links

• The Minderoo Foundation

Music

The Externals – available on Spotify

Ben Frichot - available on Spotify

Mitchell Martin - available on Spotify