Jim McDowell, the Deputy Secretary Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment, is stepping down from the role. His departure comes amidst public contradictions in the past week on the General Purpose Frigates (GPF) between McDowell and the Minister for Defence, Richard Marles. On 26 February 2025, McDowell claimed in Senate Estimates that he expected a government decision in the first quarter of next year. On 27 February, Marles refuted this: “So, we want to see a decision made this year, so let me be clear about that,” he said.
An internal department memo, sent on Monday 3 March by Defence Secretary Greg Moriarty and Defence Chief Admiral David Johnston, announced McDowell’s resignation.
"We would like to acknowledge the retirement of Mr Jim McDowell from the Australian Public Service on 11 April 2025 and thank Mr McDowell for his dedication to the role of Deputy Secretary Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment,” Moriarty and ADM Johnston wrote.
According to the ABC, a replacement will be found in due course.
Prior to being Deputy Secretary Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment, McDowell has had a decades long career in Defence-related industries. He started his career in 1978 as a Legal, Commercial and Marketing positions at Bombardier Shorts before progressing to be a Managing Director of BAE Systems Asia in 1988. In 2001, he would then become CEO of BAE Systems Australia and then in 2011, CEO of BAE Systems Saudi Arabia. 2014 would see him be the Chair Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation; Founder with Josamila Consulting. In 2016, he was Chancellor of the University of South Australia. His most recent positions include the Chief Executive Officer of Nova Systems in 2020 and the Chief Executive of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet for the Government of South Australia in 2018.
The Sea 3000 GPF program is what will eventually replace the Anzac-class frigate, which is currently in use by Navy. In the past year a down-selection has been made on two shipbuilders for Australia’s GPF, however, the competition between the two companies is still ongoing. The first three ships will be built in the winning bidder’s parent country, either Germany or Japan. Then the next six to eight will be built in Western Australia, potentially at the new Defence precinct in Henderson. What is unusual about the program is the predicted speed of coming to a decision. Usually, the total evaluation of a complex warship can take up to ten years. This will be done in a little over two years.
Estimated to cost $7 to $10 billion in a ten-year budget profile, the first GPF is expected to be completed by 2029 at the latest. Although that date is still subject to the government and its decisions. Greens Senator David Shoebridge at the 26 February Senate Estimates wondered why the GPF were taking so long to build and such substantial amounts to fund. He asserted that Navy has a large part of the Defence budget, using 80 per cent of the capital budget for the ADF, and argued that McDowell should have more answers.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-03/senior-defence-official-jim-mcdowell-quits/105004926