| Post: | Deputy Chief of the |
| Incumbent: | Jonathan Earley |
| Incumbentsince: | 16 December 2022 |
| Member Of: | Royal Australian Navy |
| Reports To: | Chief of Navy |
| Style: | Rear Admiral |
| Abbreviation: | DCN |
The Deputy Chief of Navy (DCN) is the second most senior appointment in the Royal Australian Navy, responsible to the Chief of Navy (CN). The rank associated with the position is rear admiral (2-star).
The following list chronologically records those who have held the post of Deputy Chief of Navy or its preceding positions. Rank and honours are as at the completion of the individual's tours.
| Rank | Name | Postnominal(s) | Term began | Term ended | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deputy Chief of Naval Staff | |||||
| Captain | 1940 | 1942[1] | |||
| Captain | September 1943 | 1944 | |||
| Captain | 1944 | 1945 | |||
| Captain | October 1945 | 1946[2] | |||
| Captain | October 1946 | October 1948 | |||
| Captain | October 1948 | 1951 | |||
| Captain | October 1951 | 1952[3] | |||
| Captain | 1952 | 1954 | |||
| Captain | 1954 | 1954 | |||
| Rear Admiral | 1955 | 1957[4] | |||
| Rear Admiral | January 1957 | January 1959 | |||
| Rear Admiral | January 1959 | 1962 | |||
| Rear Admiral | 1962 | 1964 | |||
| Rear Admiral | 1965 | 1967 | |||
| Rear Admiral | 1967 | April 1968 | |||
| Rear Admiral | 1968 | 1970 | |||
| Rear Admiral | 1970 | 1971 | |||
| Rear Admiral | 1972 | 1973 | |||
| Rear Admiral | 1973 | 1975[5] [6] | |||
| Rear Admiral | 1974 | 1975 | |||
| Rear Admiral | 1975 | 1978 | |||
| Rear Admiral | 1978 | 1979 | |||
| Rear Admiral | 1979 | 1981 | |||
| Rear Admiral | 1981 | 1982 | |||
| Rear Admiral | 1982 | 1983 | |||
| Rear Admiral | 1983 | 1984 | |||
| Rear Admiral | 1984 | 1984 | |||
| Rear Admiral | 1985 | 1989[7] [8] | |||
| Rear Admiral | 1989 | 1989 | |||
| Rear Admiral | 1989 | 1990 | |||
| Rear Admiral | July 1990 | March 1991 | |||
| Rear Admiral | 1991 | 1991 | |||
| Rear Admiral | November 1991 | 1994 | |||
| Rear Admiral | 1994 | 1995 | |||
| Rear Admiral | May 1996 | June 1997 | |||
| Deputy Chief of Navy | |||||
| Rear Admiral | 1997 | 1999[9] | |||
| Rear Admiral | 1999 | 1999[10] | |||
| Rear Admiral | 1999 | 2000 | |||
| Rear Admiral | June 2000 | June 2002[11] | |||
| Rear Admiral | June 2002 | June 2004 | |||
| Rear Admiral | June 2004 | June 2006 | |||
| Rear Admiral | June 2006 | June 2008 | |||
| Rear Admiral | June 2008 | February 2011 | |||
| Rear Admiral | February 2011 | 2013 | |||
| Rear Admiral | 2013 | 28 January 2016 | |||
| Rear Admiral | 28 January 2016 | 23 March 2018 | |||
| Rear Admiral | 23 March 2018 | 11 September 2020 | |||
| Rear Admiral | 11 September 2020[12] | 16 December 2022 | |||
| Rear Admiral | 16 December 2022 | Incumbent |