Johan Retief

Vice Admiral Johan Retief SD & Bar PG SM MMM was the Chief of the South African Navy from 2000 to 2005.
Retief was born on 20 March 1946 in Cape Town, matriculating at Hoërskool Jan van Riebeeck in Cape Town.

He attended the South African Military Academy after completing his Citizen Force training and graduated with a Bachelor of Military Science degree in 1967 and was judged the Best Student in that year.

He was appointed an Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer and was selected to attend the Torpedo and Anti-Submarine course at HMS Vernon in Portsmouth, United Kingdom.

He joined the Strike Craft Flotilla, initially as training officer at the inception of the project in 1975. He was the Commissioning Captain of SAS Jim Fouche and attended the Naval Command and Staff Course in 1981. After Completing a year as Staff Officer Surface Warfare, he was appointed Director Naval Operations in 1985. After attending the Joint Staff Course in 1988 he served as Senior Staff Officer Research at the Intelligence Division and then as Military Secretary to the Minister of Defence General Magnus Malan and Ministers Roelf Meyer and Gene Louw.

He was promoted to Rear Admiral and appointed as Chief of Naval Operations with effect from 1 January 1993 until 30 April 1996, after which he served as Inspector-General of the South African National Defence Force.

He was promoted to Vice Admiral and appointed Chief of the South African Navy on 1 November 2000.

His official portrait on display at the Naval Museum

Adm Retief was awarded the following:

• Southern Cross Decoration (SD & Bar)

• iPhrothiya yeGolide (PG) (Golden Protea)

• Southern Cross Medal (SM)

• Military Merit Medal (MMM)

• Pro Patria Medal

• Southern Africa Medal

• General Service Medal

• Unitas Medal

• Medalje vir Troue Diens (Medal for Loyal Service with 40 Year Clasp)

• Good Service Medal, Gold (30 Years)

• Good Service Medal, Silver (20 Years)

• Good Service Medal, Bronze (10 Years)

• Order of Naval Merit (Brazil)

• Netshirembe, Lutuno (2011). "CAF Medal parade" (PDF). Ad Astra (1): 25.