Chief of Defence Force
Coat of arms of New Zealand
Incumbent
Air Marshal Kevin Short
since 1 July 2018
AbbreviationCDF
Member ofNew Zealand Defence Force
Reports toMinister of Defence
Term lengthThree years (renewable)
Constituting instrumentDefence Act 1990
Formation1 July 1963
First holderVice Admiral
Sir Peter Phipps
DeputyVice Chief of Defence Force
WebsiteOfficial website

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. All the incumbents have held three-star rank. The current Chief of Defence Force is Air Marshal Kevin Short.[1]

Role

The CDF is the professional head of the defence forces and serves as the principal military advisor to the government. They are responsible for directing the chiefs of service and ensuring morale. The CDF also serves as the chief executive of the defence force, thereby being the person with sole accountability to the government and people of New Zealand.[2]

Appointments

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

No. Portrait NameTook officeLeft officeTime in officeDefence branch
Chief of Defence Staff
1
Sir Peter Phipps KBE, DSC & Bar, VRD
Phipps, PeterVice Admiral
Sir Peter Phipps KBE, DSC & Bar, VRD
(1909–1989)		1 July 1963July 19652 yearsRNZN
2
Sir Leonard Thornton KCB, CBE
Thornton, LeonardLieutenant General
Sir Leonard Thornton KCB, CBE
(1916–1999)		July 1965October 1971[3]6 yearsArmy
3
Sir Richard Webb KBE, CB
Webb, RichardLieutenant General
Sir Richard Webb KBE, CB
(1919–1990)		197119764–5 yearsArmy
4
Sir Richard Bolt KBE, CB, DFC, AFC
Bolt, RichardAir Marshal
Sir Richard Bolt KBE, CB, DFC, AFC
(1923–2014)		197619803–4 yearsRNZAF
5
Sir Neil Anderson KBE, CB
Anderson, NeilVice Admiral
Sir Neil Anderson KBE, CB
(1927–2010)		198019832–3 yearsRNZN
6
Sir Ewan Jamieson KBE, CB
Jamieson, EwanAir Marshal
Sir Ewan Jamieson KBE, CB
(1930–2013)		198319862–3 yearsRNZAF
7
David Crooks CB, OBE
Crooks, DavidAir Marshal
David Crooks CB, OBE
(1931–2022)		198619872–3 yearsRNZAF
8
Sir John Mace KBE, CB
Mace, JohnLieutenant General
Sir John Mace KBE, CB
(born 1932)		198719913–4 yearsArmy
Chief of Defence Force
9
Sir Somerford Teagle KBE
Teagle, SomerfordVice Admiral
Sir Somerford Teagle KBE		199119953–4 yearsRNZN
10
Anthony Birks CB, OBE
Birks, Anthony LeonardLieutenant General
Anthony Birks CB, OBE
(1941–2002)		199519993–4 yearsArmy
11
Carey Adamson CNZM, AFC
Adamson, CareyAir Marshal
Carey Adamson CNZM, AFC
(1942–2019)		199920013–4 yearsRNZAF
12
Bruce Ferguson DCNZM, OBE, AFC
Ferguson, BruceAir Marshal
Bruce Ferguson DCNZM, OBE, AFC
(born 1949)		200130 April 20064–5 yearsRNZAF
13
Jerry Mateparae ONZM
Mateparae, JerryLieutenant General
Jerry Mateparae ONZM
(born 1954)		1 May 200623 January 20114 years, 267 daysArmy
14
Rhys Jones CNZM
Jones, RhysLieutenant General
Rhys Jones CNZM
(born 1960)		24 January 201131 January 20143 years, 7 daysArmy
15
Tim Keating MNZM
Keating, TimLieutenant General
Tim Keating MNZM		1 February 201430 June 20184 years, 149 daysArmy
16
Kevin Short
Short, KevinAir Marshal
Kevin Short		1 July 2018Incumbent5 years, 197 daysRNZAF

References

  1. ↑ "NZDF website CDF page". Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  2. ↑ New Zealand Defence Force (8 November 2017). "About Us". nzdf.mil.nz. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  3. ↑ Pugsley, Chris. "Thornton, Leonard Whitmore". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
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