From Ship to Shore, Then to Saab
From deployment in the Navy to law enforcement and now a Field Services Technical Officer at Saab, Matt Clements’ career to date has taken him almost full circle.
Matt Clements, a Field Services Technical Officer based in Saab Australia’s Rockingham office in Western Australia, has traded in his police uniform for a Saab shirt, but his dedication to service remains strong. After four years patrolling the streets of Armadale with Western Australia Police (WAPOL) and nine years prior to that serving as an Electronics Technician in the Royal Australian Navy, Matt has found a new mission at Saab Australia keeping people and society safe.
"I’m currently working on the AMCAP (Anzac Midlife Capability Assurance Program) upgrades to HMAS Parramatta, mainly working on the Combat Management System and the Fire Control System. Overall while there are challenges within the role, we're always working to refine processes and procedures. It's interesting work," Matt says. "Having contacts in the Navy makes it easier to do my job, and the work-life balance here is a fantastic change from my time in the Navy and Police Force."
Matt's Navy career was filled with hands-on experience with Saab equipment. "I really enjoyed working on all the Saab equipment such as the Fire Control Director and Combat Management System," he recalls. “A highlight at the time was participating in Sea Qualification Trials Fire Control Officer for the radar and weapon systems, a Harpoon missile firing off Hawaii and increasing my knowledge with respects to Saab integration to other sensors and weapons, ensuring ships were equipped with the latest upgrades, so it makes sense that I’m here!”
He transitioned to law enforcement to spend more time on dry land with his partner, family, and friends, but the demands of shift work, physical danger, and exposure to traumatic events took their toll. "I had a handful of people bite me while on duty, sometimes I was involved in physical altercations whilst trying to do my job. There was a very real risk of being hurt at work," Matt admits.
His bravery and quick thinking on the job as a police officer were recognised in October last year with a Gold Star Bravery Award from Royal Life Saving (Western Australia) for resuscitating an unconscious civilian while on duty.
A torn rotator cuff during a WAPOL training course led to some time off for recovery. It was then that Matt fielded a phone call from an old friend, a former Navy colleague who was working at Saab. "He told me there was a vacancy as a radar tech," Matt explains. "I put my application in and here I am."
With regards to his future, Matt has no plans to move on from ships.
“I aspire to become a Senior Technician and in turn Subject Matter Expert in ANZAC Class ships and the associated Saab systems, then transfer those skills across to the General Purpose & Hunter Class Frigates when they come online and then move into a Field Service Representative role which includes higher level of testing and acceptance, fault finding and defect rectification.”
He has found the career transition from law enforcement into a technical role reasonably easy, attributing it to having a supportive team he enjoys working with. "I really enjoy working at Saab," Matt says. "My team is very positive and we're always looking for ways to improve our processes. If we can find a way, we can make it work."
“For anyone looking to change careers there are many more opportunities than meets the eye, a lot of skillsets can be transferred and utilised effectively, as for transitioning careers within the same company this is widely available as long as you are willing to learn and step outside your comfort zone.”
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