Captain Paul Scott, RAN is the Director of the Department of Defence's Joint Cyber Directorate.

Captain Scott was born and raised in Charlton, Victoria. He joined the Navy in 1986 as a member of the first intake of the Australian Defence Force Academy, graduating with a Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) in 1988.

Initial Seaman Officer training saw Captain Scott serve in HMA Ships STALWART, SWAN, CURLEW and BENALLA. He was awarded his Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate in 1991 while serving in HMAS ADELAIDE.

As a Junior Officer he fulfilled a number of specialist Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving roles, prior to promotion and completion of both the Principal Warfare Officer and Communications and Information Systems Officers Courses in 1998.

At-sea warfare experience was aboard HMAS SYDNEY fulfilling the role of Signals Communications Officer 1998-2000. During this period he also served in the capacity as Executive Officer and Operations Officer, and conducted operational service in East Timor. While in command of HMAS DIAMANTINA (2002-2004), Lieutenant Commander Scott deployed to the Solomon Islands in support of Operation ANODE.

Promoted to Commander in 2006, he fulfilled staff appointments in Navy Personnel and Training, Military Strategic Commitments and Fleet Headquarters. Captain Scott deployed to the Middle East in 2006 as the Liaison Officer to Commander US Naval Central Command in Bahrain, in support of Operation CATALYST. His most recent sea command was HMAS TOBRUK between January 2010 – December 2011.

Captain Scott returned from his most recent operational deployment in April 2017, where he served as the Deputy Commander Combined Task Force 150, responsible for the coordination of maritime counter terrorism patrols in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Western Indian Ocean. He assumed the role of Director Joint Cyber in December 2020.
Captain Scott is a graduate of the Australian Command and Staff College and holds a Masters of Business Administration, Masters of Management in Defence Studies, Masters of Cyber Security, Strategy and Diplomacy and Graduate Diploma of Maritime Studies. He is the father of three active and enquiring teenagers, and enjoys quality family time watching all forms of football.