Chief of Defence Force (New Zealand)

"Head of the Defence Forces (New Zealand)" redirects here. For position held by the monarch of New Zealand, see Head of the Armed Forces (New Zealand).

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 Tony Davies.^[1][2]

Chief of Defence Force
Coat of arms of New Zealand
Incumbent Air Marshal Tony Davies MNZM since 6 June 2024
Abbreviation	CDF
Member of	New Zealand Defence Force
Reports to	Minister of Defence
Term length	Three years (renewable)
Constituting instrument	Defence Act 1990
Formation	1 July 1963
First holder	Vice Admiral Sir Peter Phipps
Deputy	Vice Chief of Defence Force
Website	Official website

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.^[3]

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	Name	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Defence branch
Chief of Defence Staff
1		Phipps, PeterVice Admiral Sir Peter Phipps KBE, DSC & Bar, VRD (1909–1989)	1 July 1963	July 1965	2 years	RNZN
2		Thornton, LeonardLieutenant General Sir Leonard Thornton KCB, CBE (1916–1999)	July 1965	October 1971[4]	6 years	Army
3		Webb, RichardLieutenant General Sir Richard Webb KBE, CB (1919–1990)	1971	1976	4–5 years	Army
4		Bolt, RichardAir Marshal Sir Richard Bolt KBE, CB, DFC, AFC (1923–2014)	1976	1980	3–4 years	RNZAF
5		Anderson, NeilVice Admiral Sir Neil Anderson KBE, CB (1927–2010)	1980	1983	2–3 years	RNZN
6		Jamieson, EwanAir Marshal Sir Ewan Jamieson KBE, CB (1930–2013)	1983	1986	2–3 years	RNZAF
7		Crooks, DavidAir Marshal David Crooks CB, OBE (1931–2022)	1986	1987	2–3 years	RNZAF
8		Mace, JohnLieutenant General Sir John Mace KBE, CB (born 1932)	1987	1991	3–4 years	Army
Chief of Defence Force
9		Teagle, SomerfordVice Admiral Sir Somerford Teagle KBE	1991	1995	3–4 years	RNZN
10		Birks, Anthony LeonardLieutenant General Anthony Birks CB, OBE (1941–2002)	1995	1999	3–4 years	Army
11		Adamson, CareyAir Marshal Carey Adamson CNZM, AFC (1942–2019)	1999	2001	3–4 years	RNZAF
12		Ferguson, BruceAir Marshal Bruce Ferguson OBE, AFC (born 1949)	2001	30 April 2006	4–5 years	RNZAF
13		Mateparae, JerryLieutenant General Jerry Mateparae ONZM (born 1954)	1 May 2006	23 January 2011	4 years, 267 days	Army
14		Jones, RhysLieutenant General Rhys Jones CNZM (born 1960)	24 January 2011	31 January 2014	3 years, 7 days	Army
15		Keating, TimLieutenant General Tim Keating MNZM	1 February 2014	30 June 2018	4 years, 149 days	Army
16		Short, KevinAir Marshal Kevin Short CNZM	1 July 2018	6 June 2024	5 years, 341 days	RNZAF
17		Davies, TonyAir Marshal Tony Davies MNZM	6 June 2024		1 year, 15 days	RNZAF