He was awarded the CSC for outstanding achievement as Director General Navy Communications and Co-ordination.

For the three years he held the position, Captain Bateman’s responsibilities ranged from the organisation of important navy events to liaison with ministerial offices to overseeing navy’s internet and intranet presence including social media. 

It also included dealing with the day-to-day media requests and co-ordinating media responses for the navy.

The citation said Captain Bateman was an exceptional officer displaying consistent professional excellence, inspirational leadership, outstanding initiative and dedication to duty. 

“It is a great feeling to be honoured. I’m very humbled to be nominated and then receive the award,” he said.

“There were many highlights and memorable moments during my three years in the role,” Captain Bateman said. 

“After that nothing really surprises me anymore.”

Captain Bateman joined the Royal Australian Naval College in 1982 where he started training as a seaman officer. 

He said there had been many highlights in his 32-year career, with graduating as a pilot one of them.

His current posting as commanding officer of HMAS Albatross has brought him to a familiar point on the globe as he has previously held many aircrew jobs including those at sea, as a flight pilot and Flight Commander, and ashore, as the Deputy Fleet Aviation Officer, commanding officer of 805 and 816 Squadron and staff positions at the Headquarters Fleet Air Arm. 

He has previously received the Australian Active Service Medal, Iraq Medal, Afghanistan Medal, Australian Operation Service Medal – Border Protection and Defence Force Service Medal with the navy having taken him to many points on the globe including Greece, Eygpt, Africa, Middle East, India, Malaysia, Singapore Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, PNG, South Pacific and the US.