Chief of Army (New Zealand)

Chief of Army
=
Incumbent
Dave Gawn
since 25 February 2013
Style Major General
Member of New Zealand Defence Force
Reports to Chief of Defence Force
Term length Three years (renewable)
Inaugural holder Major General
Sir Alexander Godley
Formation 7 December 1910

Chief of Army (CA) is the effective commander of the New Zealand Army, responsible to the Chief of Defence Force (CDF) for raising, training and sustaining those forces necessary to meet agreed government outputs. The CA acts as principal advisor to the CDF on Army matters, though for operations the Army's combat units fall under the command of the Land Component Commander, Joint Forces New Zealand. The rank associated with the position is major general, and CAs are generally appointed on a three year term.[1]

The position was originally formed as Commandant and General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Military Forces in 1910, changing to Chief of the General Staff in 1937 and, finally, CA in 2002.[2] Major General Dave Gawn, the incumbent CA, has held the post since 25 February 2013.[3]

Appointees

      This along with the * (asterisk) indicates that the individual was subsequently promoted to lieutenant general and appointed Chief of Defence Force.

The following list chronologically records those who have held the post of Chief of Army or its preceding positions, with rank and honours as at the completion of the individual's term.[2]

Rank Name Postnominals Term began Term ended
Commandant and General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Military Forces
Major General Sir Alexander Godley KCMG 7 December 1910 10 September 1914
Major General Sir Alfred Robin KCMG, CB 11 September 1914 9 December 1919
Major General Sir Edward Chaytor KCMG, KCVO, CB 10 December 1919 31 April 1924
Major General Charles Melvill CB, CMG, DSO 1 May 1924 6 December 1925
Major General Robert Young CB, CMG, DSO 7 December 1925 31 March 1931
Major General Sir William Sinclair-Burgess KBE, CB, CMG, DSO 1 April 1931 31 March 1937
Chief of the General Staff
Major General Sir John Duigan KBE, CB, DSO 1 April 1937 31 May 1941
Lieutenant General Sir Edward Puttick KCB, DSO & Bar 1 August 1941 31 December 1945
Major General Sir Norman Weir KBE, CB 1 January 1946 31 March 1949
Major General Keith Lindsay Stewart CB, DSO, OBE 1 April 1949 31 March 1952
Major General William Gentry CB, CBE, DSO & Bar 1 April 1952 14 August 1955
Major General Sir Stephen Weir KBE, CB, DSO & Bar 15 August 1955 30 August 1960
Major General Sir Leonard Thornton* KCB, CBE 1 September 1960 31 March 1965
Major General Walter McKinnon CB, CBE 1 April 1965 31 March 1967
Major General Robert Dawson CB, CBE, DSO 1 April 1967 31 March 1970
Major General Richard Webb* CB, CBE 1 April 1970 28 September 1971
Major General Leslie Pearce CB, CBE 29 September 1971 30 September 1973
Major General Robin Holloway CB, CBE 1 October 1973 14 November 1976
Major General Ronald Hassett CB, CBE 15 November 1976 15 November 1978
Major General Brian Poananga CB, CBE 16 November 1978 15 November 1981
Major General R. G. Williams CB, MBE 16 November 1981 11 December 1984
Major General John Mace* CB, MBE 12 December 1984 30 November 1987
Major General Don McIver OBE 1 December 1987 28 February 1989
Major General Bruce Meldrum CB, OBE 1 March 1989 29 February 1992
Major General Anthony Birks* CB, OBE 1 March 1992 24 February 1995
Major General Piers Reid CBE 25 February 1995 25 February 1998
Major General Maurice Dodson CBE, MC 26 February 1998 February 2002
Major General Jerry Mateparae ONZM February 2002 mid-2002
Chief of Army
Major General Jerry Mateparae* ONZM mid-2002 30 April 2006
Major General Lou Gardiner ONZM 1 May 2006 30 April 2009
Major General Rhys Jones* 1 May 2009 23 January 2011
Major General Tim Keating* MNZM February 2011 December 2012
Major General Dave Gawn MBE 25 February 2013 Incumbent

References

  1. ↑ "The New Zealand Army Leadership Team". New Zealand Army. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Chronological List of New Zealand Army Chiefs". Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and Commonwealth. regiments.org. Archived from the original on 30 November 2007.
  3. ↑ "Chief of Army". Our Leaders. New Zealand Army. Retrieved 23 June 2014.