Two AFP officers have been recognised for their dedicated service and commitment to law enforcement and the Australian community with the announcement of the 2022 Queen’s Birthday honours.
Assistant Commissioner Nigel Ryan and Detective Sergeant Scott Mellis have been awarded the Australian Police Medal in recognition of their service and achievements.
Assistant Commissioner Ryan was recognised for his distinguished service in drug enforcement, crime disruption and international policing.
Detective Sergeant Mellis was honoured for his roles in the field of cybercrime operations.
Assistant Commissioner Nigel Ryan started with the AFP in December 1994 as a recruit. He has worked in key leadership positions, including leading the AFP National Media Team and – as National Coordinator Taskforces – establishing the National Anti-Gangs Squad. He also coordinated the Australian government emergency response and subsequent AFP investigation into the MH-17 disaster.
Assistant Commissioner Ryan has led the AFP’s International Engagement teams and later headed up the Professional Standards area. He was named Chief of Staff in 2019, before assuming his current role in the AFP’s Crime Command in 2020, which includes the overall command of AFP Operation Ironside.
His outstanding accomplishments in 28 years, and dedication to the organisation and law enforcement as a whole highlight his role as a leader and worthy recipient of the Australian Police Medal.
Detective Sergeant Mellis entered the AFP college as a recruit with the AFP in April 1988. He began in the Legal/Project and Planning team, and later received his Detective designation in 1995 working in Australia’s first computer crime team based in Melbourne.
In October 2000, Detective Sergeant Mellis was deployed for a year as part of the United Nations mission to East Timor. He returned to the Protection Security Intelligence team, and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2003, working at the Australian High Tech Crime Centre and in High Tech Crime Operations. In February 2017, he was posted to London as the inaugural Cybercrime Liaison Officer. He returned to his current role in Cybercrime Operations in January 2021.
AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said Assistant Commissioner Ryan and Detective Sergeant Mellis hard-earned recognition is due to their continued commitment to policing and the broader community.
“Assistant Commissioner Ryan has been recognised as an effective leader and strong builder of partnerships domestically and internationally during his more than 28 years of policing, which is a testament to his character.
Today, I am delighted that his hard work and dedication is recognised before the greater Australian community.”
“Detective Sergeant Mellis vision and commitment to every role he has undertaken, particularly as a leader in Cybercrime Operations, is only one example of why he has been awarded the well-deserved Australian Police Medal”, Commissioner Kershaw said.
Photographs of Assistant Commissioner Nigel Ryan and Detective Sergeant Scott Mellis are available on request.
