Naval Commander
Commander O'Brien, a native of Co. Tipperary is the first woman in the history of the Naval Service to achieve the rank of Commander.
Get In Touch with Roberta O'Brien
She joined the Permanent Defence Forces in 1995 and was part of the first ever enrolment of female personnel into the Irish Navy.
O’Brien has had a remarkable and accomplished career to date wherein she was commissioned as an Officer in 1997 and has held a wide variety of appointments at sea and ashore including that of Gunnery, Navigation and Executive (2i/c) officer onboard numerous ships, a Senior Staff Officer in Naval Headquarters, Health & Safety Advisor, Cadet Class Officer and was second in command of the Naval Service’s Logistics Unit. She has served overseas on Operation Sophia (EU response to the migrant crisis) and in the International Staff in the Operations Directorate in NATO HQ. She holds a BSc from NUI Galway, a HDip in Management and Marketing (UCC), a HDip in Safety Health and Welfare at Work (UCC) and an MSc in Leadership Management and Defence Studies. She also completed a gender advisors’ course in Sweden and is a strong advocate of incorporating the gender perspective in operations, policies and proceedures.
In 2008, Commander O'Brien become the first female captain of an Irish warship when she assumed command of the LÉ Aisling. She is currently working as Associate Head of the National Maritime College of Ireland and Officer Commanding and Commandant Naval College.
Commander O’Brien was awarded the 'Cork Woman of the Year' Award in 2011.
A mother of three young children, her husband, Peadar Ó Catháin, is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Irish Army currently Barrack Commander in 1 Brigade Collins Barrack Cork.