played a leading role in the relief effort following the devastation of Darwin by Cyclone Tracy. In 1976, Synnot was promoted to vice admiral and appointed Chief of Naval Staff. He initiated a review of the Navy Office and of the Navy's structure of command and control. He drew up a blueprint for the maintenance of naval capability into the future, and oversaw the Navy's guided-missile frigate project. Extremely able and practical, Synnot came to be regarded as one of the country's most outstanding defence force chiefs. A strong believer in deterrence and an advocate of close co-operation with America and countries in the Pacific region, Synnot emphasised the need for a strong military capability for national defence and for joint operations with Australia's allies overseas. He was said to have done more to equip Australia's armed forces with up-to-date military technology than any of his predecessors. In particular, he was instrumental in persuading the Australian government of the need to upgrade the country's air force with the acquisition of the F/A-18 Hornet. He was also behind the decision to acquire the British aircraft carrier as a replacement for the ageing HMAS Melbourne. However, Britain withdrew the offer to sell Invincible after the Falklands War. Synnot retired on 20 April 1982. Personal Synnot was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1971, and knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1978. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1976. He married Virginia Davenport in 1959 and they remained married until her death in 1965. He married a second time in 1968 to Anne Colvin (née Manifold), great-niece of former Prime Minister of Australia Stanley Bruce and mother of journalist Mark Colvin. Admiral Sir Anthony Synnot died on 4 July 2001 at the age of 79, after suffering from a long illness. References External links Australian Naval Personalities: Synnot, Anthony Monckton (1922–2001) Defence Force – Previous Chiefs Media release – Death of Admiral Sir Anthony Synnot 1922 births 2001 deaths Military personnel from New South Wales Graduates of the Royal College of Defence Studies Australian Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire Australian military personnel of the Malayan Emergency Australian military personnel of the Vietnam War Chiefs of Defence Force Staff (Australia) Deputy Chiefs of Naval Staff (Australia) Officers of the Order of Australia People