Chief of Defence Force (New Zealand)

Chief of Defence Force (New Zealand)
Incumbent	Tim Keating

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 Lieutenant General Tim Keating.

Appointees

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.

Rank	Name	Postnominals	Service	Term began	Term ended
Chief of Defence Staff
Vice Admiral	Sir Peter Phipps	KBE DSC & Bar, VRD	RNZN	1 July 1963	July 1965
Lieutenant General	Sir Leonard Thornton	KCB CBE	Army	July 1965	1971
Lieutenant General	Sir Richard Webb	KBE CB	Army	1971	1976
Air Marshal	Sir Richard Bolt	KBE CB DFC AFC	RNZAF	1976	1980
Vice Admiral	Sir Neil Anderson	KBE CB	RNZN	1980	1983
Air Marshal	Sir Ewan Jamieson	KBE CB	RNZAF	1983	1986
Air Marshal	David Crooks	CB OBE	RNZAF	1986	1987
Lieutenant General	Sir John Mace	KBE CB	Army	1987	1991
Chief of Defence Force
Vice Admiral	Sir Somerford Teagle	KBE	RNZN	1991	1995
Lieutenant General	Anthony Birks	CB OBE	Army	1995	1999
Air Marshal	Carey Adamson	CNZM AFC	RNZAF	1999	2001
Air Marshal	Bruce Ferguson	DCNZM OBE AFC	RNZAF	2001	30 April 2006
Lieutenant General	Jerry Mateparae	ONZM	Army	1 May 2006	23 January 2011
Lieutenant General	Rhys Jones	CNZM	Army	24 January 2011	31 January 2014
Lieutenant General	Tim Keating	MNZM	Army	1 February 2014	Incumbent