Kevin Scarce

Rear Admiral Kevin John Scarce,    (born 4 May 1952) is a retired officer of the Royal Australian Navy and the Governor of South Australia. He succeeded Marjorie Jackson-Nelson as Governor on 8 August 2007. He is also the Chief Scout of South Australia.

As Governor of South Australia he serves as the patron of many organisations including Foundation Daw Park, (the fundraising arm of the Repatriation General Hospital, Daw Park), the Victoriana Society of South Australia and the Royal Automobile Association.

Early and personal life
Born in Adelaide, South Australia in 1952, Scarce spent his early childhood in Woomera and attended Elizabeth East Primary School and Elizabeth High School. Joining the navy in 1968, Scarce served during the Vietnam War on the troop transport HMAS Sydney.

In 1975, he married Elizabeth Anne Taylor while posted at HMAS Watson. They have two adult children, Kasha (born in 1978) and Kingsley (born in 1980). Kasha works as a social worker in Sydney and Kingsley serves as a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Australian Navy.

Military procurement career
After the war, Scarce's naval career specialised in military logistics and procurement, rising to the rank of Rear Admiral and head of Maritime Systems at the Defence Materiel Organisation. Scarce also served as the commander of HMAS Cerberus between 1995 and 1997.

As head of the South Australian government's Defence Unit, he was responsible for South Australia's winning bid for a A$6 billion defence contract to build three air warfare destroyers for the Australian Defence Force.

Service as Governor
On 3 May 2007, it was announced that Scarce would become Governor of South Australia – the Queen's representative in the state, although after his appointment he broke the tenets of viceregal impartiality by publicly stating that he is an avowed supporter of an Australian republic. When appointed, he was the youngest South Australian-born Governor and the first Royal Australian Navy officer appointed to the position. On 13 February 2013, Scarce's term was extended by two years to 7 August 2014.

Honours

 * 26 January 1994: Conspicuous Service Cross
 * 11 June 2001: Member of the Order of Australia (Military division) for exceptional service to the Royal Australian Navy as Commander Training Command – Navy, and as Support Commander – Navy.
 * 26 January 2004: Officer of the Order of Australia (Military division) for distinguished service in logistics management and acquisition as the Head, Maritime Systems Division in the Defence Materiel Organisation.
 * 9 August 2007: Knight of Grace in the Venerable Order of Saint John, awarded by His Excellency the Governor-General of Australia.
 * 26 January 2008: Companion of the Order of Australia (General division) for contributions to Australia's defence industry through the provision of leadership and strategic advice on the development of naval capabilities, to maritime transport management, and to the people of South Australia.