National President
Rear Admiral the Honourable Kevin Scarce AC CSC RAN (Rtd)
Rear Admiral the Honourable Kevin Scarce AC CSC RAN (Rtd), was born in Adelaide and educated at Elizabeth East Primary School and Elizabeth High School. He served in the Royal Australian Navy from 1968, retiring in 2004. His appointments included service on HMAS Sydney during the Vietnam War, postings in Washington and London, Commanding Officer of HMAS Cerberus and Flag appointments as Naval Training and Naval Support Commander.
Kevin began his association with Scouts as a Cub Scout. He was the Chief Scout for Scouts South Australia from 2007 to 2014 and continued his active contribution to Scouts South Australia as their patron.
Kevin also specialised in military logistics and procurement, rising to the rank of Rear Admiral and Head of Maritime Systems at the Defence Materiel Organisation. After retirement, as Head of the South Australian Defence Unit, he led a government team that contributed to ASC winning the contract to build air warfare destroyers for the Australian Defence Force.
On 8th August 2007, Kevin was sworn in as the 34th Governor of South Australia, serving more than seven years in the role.
Kevin was awarded: the Conspicuous Service Cross in 1994, and was appointed an Officer in the Military Division of the Order of Australia in 2004, the Knight of Grace in the Venerable Order of Saint John in 2007 and a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2008.
He completed a Bachelor of Financial Administration from New England, Masters of Management Economics at the University of New South Wales (Australian Defence Force Academy campus), and a Masters Degree in National Security Strategy at the US War College (National Defense University) in Washington, DC. In 2009, Flinders University and the New England University both bestowed an honorary Doctorate in recognition of his distinguished service to the nation and to the public of South Australia.
In 2014 he was appointed as 16th Chancellor of the University of Adelaide and is also Chancellor of Children’s University Australia. As well as his role of President of Scouts Australia, he is Chair or President of a number of organisations including: Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority, Cancer Council SA, Novita Children’s Services, Humanihut Pty Ltd and APC Technologies as well as Chair of the Board of Advisors of the Research Unit on Military Law and Ethics at the University of Adelaide.
He is Deputy Chair of Seeley International and Operation Flinders and is joint Patron, with his wife Liz, of Anglicare SA.
RADM Scarce has accepted the nomination to be the President of the National Council of the Scout Association of Australia.
