Jack Steer

Rear Admiral Jack Raymond Steer, ONZM is a retired Royal New Zealand Navy officer, who served as Chief of Navy from 2012 to 2015.

Jack Raymond Steer
Steer (right) with Admiral Thad Allen of the US Coast Guard in June 2009
Born	Christchurch, New Zealand
Allegiance	New Zealand
Branch	Royal New Zealand Navy
Years of service	1973–2015
Rank	Rear Admiral
Commands	Chief of Navy (2012–15) Vice Chief of Defence Force (2008–12) Commander Joint Forces New Zealand (2006–07) Maritime Component Commander (2004–06) HMNZS Wellington (1994–96)
Awards	Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit

Career

Born in Christchurch,^[1] Steer joined the Royal New Zealand Navy in 1973.^[2] He served as chief of staff at Joint Forces Headquarters from January 2003 to April 2004, when he was promoted to commodore and appointed as Maritime Component Commander.^[2] He was appointed Deputy Chief of Navy in January 2006, before taking up the position of Commander Joint Forces New Zealand in May, with promotion to rear admiral. In February 2008, he was appointed Vice Chief of Defence Force.^[1] He served in the post until 2012, when he was appointed Chief of Navy.

Steer was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 1996 Queen's Birthday Honours.^[3]