Rear Admiral Michael Julian van Balen AO (born 16 February 1961) is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), who served as the Deputy Chief of Navy from 2013 to January 2016.

[1] van Balen has served in a various billets within the Australian naval high command and United States Navy commands.

[1] He has served on board a variety of Royal Australian Navy ships including HMA ships Barbette, Brisbane, Stalwart, Stuart, Yarra, Bunbury, Derwent, Swan and the United States Navy ship USS Ranger, a Forrestal-class aircraft carrier.

[1] van Balen completed a Master of Management degree from the Australian Defence Force Academy in 2001.

RADM van Balen has also been awarded the RAN's "Principal Warfare Officer" badge and the RAN's "Sea Readiness Badge".