Chief of Defence Force (New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
The Chief of Defence Force (CDF) is the appointment held by the professional head of the New Zealand Defence Force
. The post has existed under its present name since 1991. From 1963 to 1991 the head of the New Zealand Defence Force was known as the Chief of Defence Staff. With the exception of Rear-Admiral Sir Peter Phipps
, all the incumbents have held three-star rank.
The current Chief of Defence Force is Lieutenant-General Rhys Jones
.
New Zealand Defence Force
The New Zealand Defence Force consists of three services: the Royal New Zealand Navy; the New Zealand Army; and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The Commander-in-Chief of the NZDF is His Excellency Rt. Hon...
. The post has existed under its present name since 1991. From 1963 to 1991 the head of the New Zealand Defence Force was known as the Chief of Defence Staff. With the exception of Rear-Admiral Sir Peter Phipps
Peter Phipps
Pete Phipps is a rock drummer, singer and songwriter known for his work with Gary Glitter, The Glitter Band, and later Eurythmics, XTC and Denim.-Biography:...
, all the incumbents have held three-star rank.
The current Chief of Defence Force is Lieutenant-General Rhys Jones
Rhys Jones (soldier)
Lieutenant General Richard Rhys Jones is the current Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force.-Early life:Jones was born in in Timaru, the son of Methodist minister Alan Jones and the youngest in a family of nine, six in his immediate family plus three half-brothers including writer Owen Marshall...
.
Chief of Defence Staff
- 1963–1966 Rear-Admiral Sir Peter PhippsPeter PhippsPete Phipps is a rock drummer, singer and songwriter known for his work with Gary Glitter, The Glitter Band, and later Eurythmics, XTC and Denim.-Biography:...
(first, from 1 July 1963) - 1963–1966 Lieutenant-General Sir Leonard ThorntonLeonard ThorntonLieutenant General Sir Leonard William Thornton, KCB, CBE was a New Zealand Army officer and the longest serving Chief of the Defence Staff ....
- 1974–1976 Lieutenant-General Sir Richard Webb
- 1976–1980 Air Marshal Sir Richard BoltRichard Bolt (RNZAF officer)Air Marshal Sir Richard Bolt, KBE, CB, DFC, AFC, was a World War II bomber pilot and a senior Royal New Zealand Air Force officer in the post-War years. He was Chief of the Air Staff from 1974 to 1976 and Chief of the New Zealand Defence Staff from 1976 to 1980 when he retired from the...
- 1980–1983 Vice-Admiral Sir Neil Anderson
- 1983–1986 Air Marshal Sir Ewan Jamieson
- 1986–1987 Air Marshal David Crooks
- 1987–1991 Lieutenant-General Sir John Mace
Chief of Defence Force
- 1991–1995 Vice-Admiral Sir Somerford Teagle (first, from 29 March 1991)
- 1995–1999 Lieutenant-General Anthony Birks
- 1999–2001 Air Marshal Carey Adamson
- 2001–2006 Air Marshal Sir Bruce FergusonBruce FergusonAir Marshal Sir Bruce Reid Ferguson KNZM, OBE, AFC is the former Chief of New Zealand Defence Force and Director of Government Communications Security Bureau. He took up the appointment when the previous Director Dr. Warren Tucker, took up his new role as Director of Security Intelligence Service...
- 2006–2011 Lieutenant-General Sir Jerry MateparaeJerry MateparaeLieutenant General Sir Jeremiah "Jerry" Mateparae, GNZM, QSO is New Zealand's 20th Governor-General. He was Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force between 2006 and 2011, the first Māori person to hold the office, and the Director of the New Zealand Government Communications Security Bureau from 7...
- 2011–present Lieutenant-General Rhys JonesRhys Jones (soldier)Lieutenant General Richard Rhys Jones is the current Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force.-Early life:Jones was born in in Timaru, the son of Methodist minister Alan Jones and the youngest in a family of nine, six in his immediate family plus three half-brothers including writer Owen Marshall...