Life under the surface: resilience, curiosity, and a shared purpose.
Wade is a Technology Controls Manager at ASC. He’s also the Deputy Chair of ASC’s Veteran Advisory Committee, and he has the experience to match.
Wade spent nearly a decade serving in the Royal Australian Navy as an Acoustic Warfare Analyst Submariner – responsible for protecting one of a submarine’s most valuable assets – its stealth.
Life below the surface.
Submarines, Wade explains, are “the world’s last truly stealth technology” — able to operate unseen and, in doing so, create a powerful deterrent.
In practice, that meant long periods beneath the surface, listening, analysing sound signatures (including dolphins and whales), interpreting the ocean environment, and helping the crew understand what was around them.
It also meant living in a world unlike any other.
“You forget you’re under the ocean,” Wade says. “It feels like you’re in an office with no windows — until something happens and you’re snapped straight back into reality.”
That something could be a drill — or a real emergency. Submarines operate in an environment where risks are ever-present.
They also operate in the world’s largest environment: the ocean.
“I genuinely love being at sea,” he says. “I miss the waves bouncing off the bow and crashing all the way over your head. Some people didn’t enjoy bridge lookout watches during wild weather, but I absolutely loved them. I loved getting up there and just getting drenched.”
A new beginning.
After eight years in the Navy, Wade made the difficult decision to leave — and encountered a challenge familiar to many veterans.
Despite his experience, his job applications were repeatedly rejected. Even entry-level roles were out of reach.
“I was told I didn’t have the qualifications to stack shelves or to work in a canning factory. I ended up just applying for anything’.
The experience took a toll.
The turning point came through a combination of persistence and support: seeking help, finding community, and continuing to move forward.
Today, at ASC, he brings together his defence experience and technical expertise in a role spanning multiple programs, including work critical to Australia’s future submarine capability.
Wade is also helping shape support for others walking a similar path.
“Many military veterans have difficulty making the transition from the services. It can be hard to explain your knowledge, experience and skills in a way that civilian employers can understand.”
A unique perspective.
As Deputy Chair of ASC’s Veterans Advisory Committee, Wade is passionate about ensuring veterans feel recognised, supported and valued.
“Veterans bring unique skills and experience,” he says. “We need to make sure we’re recognising and leveraging that.”
Reflecting on his journey, Wade sees a thread that ties it all together.
Resilience. Curiosity. And a willingness to keep going — even when the path isn’t clear.
And, like his time in submarines, it all comes back to purpose. Whether below the surface or on land, it’s that shared deeper purpose that carries people through.
Wade’s story is a reminder of the importance of building a strong community and providing meaningful support for veterans across our organisation.
ASC’s Veterans Advisory Committee is playing an important role in shaping our first Veterans Program. The program will be a key pillar of the business, championing veteran inclusion, strengthening support for ex-serving employees, and helping create clear, supported pathways for veterans transitioning into careers within Australia’s submarine enterprise.