Chief of Navy (New Zealand)

Last updated
Chief of Navy
Naval Ensign of New Zealand.svg
Naval Ensign of New Zealand
Incumbent
Garin Golding
since 27 August 2024
New Zealand Defence Force
AbbreviationCN
Member ofNavy Leadership Board
Reports to Chief of Defence Force
Term length Three years (renewable)
Formation1 October 1941
First holderCommodore Edward Parry
DeputyDeputy Chief of Navy
Website Official website

Chief of Navy (CN) commands the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) and is responsible to the Chief of Defence Force (CDF) for raising, training, and sustaining those forces necessary to meet agreed government outputs. The CN acts as principal advisor to the CDF on Navy matters, and is the most senior appointment in the RNZN. The rank associated with the position is rear admiral, and CNs are generally appointed on a three-year term. [1]

Contents

The position was originally created as Chief of Naval Staff and First Naval Member upon the formation of the RNZN on 1 October 1941. A number of the officers who became CNS served as Commodore, Auckland (later named Maritime Component Commander) before taking the helm of the Navy. The title changed to Chief of Naval Staff in 1970, and CN in 2003. [2] Rear Admiral Garin Golding assumed the post on 27 August 2024. [3]

Appointees

The following list chronologically records those who have held the post of Chief of Navy or its preceding positions, with rank and honours as at the completion of the individual's term. [2] [4] [5]

No.PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTime in office
Chief of Naval Staff and First Naval Member
1
Edward Parry of HMS Achilles.jpg
Parry, EdwardCommodore
Edward Parry CB
(1893–1972)
RN
1 October 1941June 19428 months
2
Atwell Lake.jpg
Parry, EdwardCommodore
Sir Atwell Lake, 9th Baronet CB , OBE
(1891–1972)
RN
June 194212 July 19453 years, 1 month
3
Blank.png
Faulkner, GeorgeCommodore
George Haines Faulkner DSC
(1893–1983)
RN
13 July 1945May 19471 year, 9 months
4
Blank.png
Simpson, GeorgeCommodore
George Simpson CB , CBE
RN
July 1947June 19503 years, 1 month
5
Blank.png
Balance, FCommodore
F.A. Balance DSO
RN
June 1950 [6] April 19532 years, 10 months
6
Blank.png
Madden, CharlesCommodore
Sir Charles Madden, 2nd Baronet CB
(1906–2001)
RN
April 1953May 19552 years, 1 month
7
Blank.png
McBeath, JohnRear Admiral
John McBeath CB , DSO , DSC
RN
May 1955February 19582 years, 9 months
8
Blank.png
Villiers, MichaelRear Admiral
Michael Villiers OBE
(1907–1990)
RN
February 1958March 19602 years, 1 month
9
LCdr. Peter Phipps.jpg
Phipps, PeterRear Admiral
Peter Phipps KBE , DSC & Bar , VRD
(1909–1989)
[a]
April 1960June 19633 years, 3 months
10
Richard Washbourn.jpg
Washbourn, RichardRear Admiral
Richard Washbourn CB , DSO , OBE
RN/RNZN
June 1963October 19652 years, 4 months
11
Blank.png
Ross, JohnRear Admiral
John Ross CB , CBE
October 1965June 19693 years, 8 months
12
Blank.png
Carr, LawrenceRear Admiral
Lawrence Carr DSC
July 1969May 197010 months
Chief of Naval Staff
1
Blank.png
Carr, LawrenceRear Admiral
Lawrence Carr CB , DSC
June 1970June 19722 years, 1 month
2
Blank.png
Thorne, EdwardRear Admiral
Edward Thorne CB , CBE
(1923–2013)
July 1972December 19753 years, 6 months
3
Blank.png
McKenzie, JohnRear Admiral
John McKenzie CB , CBE
December 1975December 19772 years
4
Blank.png
Anderson, NeilRear Admiral
Neil Anderson CB , CBE
(1927–2010)
[a]
December 1977April 19802 years, 4 months
5
Blank.png
Saull, KeithRear Admiral
Keith Saull CB
April 1980April 19833 years
6
Blank.png
Steward, CedricRear Admiral
Cedric Steward CB
April 1983February 19862 years, 10 months
7
Blank.png
Tempero, LincolnRear Admiral
Lincoln Tempero [8] CB
February 1986May 19871 year, 3 months
8
Blank.png
Domett, DouglasRear Admiral
Douglas Domett CB , CBE
May 1987May 19892 years
9
Blank.png
Teagle, SomerfordRear Admiral
Somerford Teagle
[a]
May 1989March 19911 year, 10 months
10
Blank.png
Hunter, IanRear Admiral
Ian Hunter CB
(1939–2022)
March 1991April 19943 years, 1 month
11
Blank.png
Welch, J.Rear Admiral
Jack Welch CB
April 19947 April 19973 years
12
Blank.png
Wilson, FredRear Admiral
Fred Wilson CBE , LVO
8 April 1997April 20002 years, 11 months
13
Blank.png
McHaffie, PeterRear Admiral
Peter McHaffie OBE
April 2000April 20033 years
Chief of Navy
1
Blank.png
McHaffie, PeterRear Admiral
Peter McHaffie CNZM , OBE
April 20037 April 20041 year
2
David Ledon at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.jpg
Ledson, DavidRear Admiral
David Ledson ONZM
(born 1951)
8 April 2004April 20094 years, 11 months
3
New Zealand RADM Tony Parr on historic Mount Victoria (cropped).jpg
Parr, TonyRear Admiral
Tony Parr ONZM , MVO
(born 1955)
April 200929 November 20123 years, 7 months
4
Chiefs of Defense Conference 091029-F-3798Y-415 (cropped).jpg
Steer, JackRear Admiral
Jack Steer ONZM
30 November 201230 November 20153 years
5
John Martin in 2016.jpg
Martin, JohnRear Admiral
John Martin ONZM
30 November 201529 November 20182 years, 11 months
6
David Proctor 2019 (cropped).jpg
Proctor, DavidRear Admiral
David Proctor
29 November 201816 May 20245 years, 5 months
7
No image.png
Golding, GarinRear Admiral
Garin Golding
27 August 2024Present11 months

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 was subsequently promoted to vice admiral and appointed Chief of Defence Force.

References

  1. "RNZN Key Personnel". About Your Navy. Royal New Zealand Navy. Archived from the original on 23 June 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  2. 1 2 Wynd, Michael. "Lists of Commanding Officers NZ Division of the RN/RNZN Fleets". The Family History Network. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  3. McCulloch, Craig (28 August 2024). "Army gets first woman chief as new Defence Force leadership announced". RNZ News . Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  4. Waters, S.D. (1956). The Royal New Zealand Navy. Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45. Wellington, New Zealand: Historical Publications Branch. p. 539.
  5. "Chiefs of Navy". Torpedo Bay Navy Museum. National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  6. https://rnzncomms.org/nznbr-1950/
  7. Tempero was CO HMNZS Santon in Singapore (A Kiwi on Our Funnel, 95); promoted lieutenant-commander in 1966; COMAUCK 11 April 1983 - 29 January 1986 (see Second Air New Zealand Almanac); and CNS 1986-7.
  8. Tempero was CO HMNZS Santon in Singapore (A Kiwi on Our Funnel, 95); promoted lieutenant-commander in 1966; COMAUCK 11 April 1983 - 29 January 1986 (see Second Air New Zealand Almanac); and CNS 1986-7.