Chief of Army (CA) is the effective commander of the New Zealand Army, responsible to the Chief of Defence Force (CDF) for raising, training and sustaining those forces necessary to meet agreed government outputs. The CA acts as principal advisor to the CDF on Army matters, though for operations the Army's combat units fall under the command of the Land Component Commander, Joint Forces New Zealand. The rank associated with the position is major general, and CAs are generally appointed on a three-year term.
The position was originally formed as Commandant and General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Military Forces in 1910, changing to Chief of the General Staff in 1937 and, finally, CA in 2002. Major General Rose King, the current CA, has been in the post since 27 August 2024. King is the first woman to serve in the role.
Appointees The below indicated * (asterisk) indicates that the individual was subsequently promoted to lieutenant general and appointed Chief of Defence Force.
The following list chronologically records those who have held the post of Chief of Army or its preceding positions, with rank and honours as at the completion of the individual's term. Portrait Name Term of office Took office Left office Time in officeCommandant and General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Military Forces1Major GeneralSir Alexander Godley7 December 191010 September 1914 2Major GeneralSir Alfred Robin11 September 19149 December 1919 3Major GeneralSir Edward Chaytor 10 December 1919 30 April 1924 4Major GeneralCharles Melvill1 May 19246 December 1925 5Major GeneralRobert Young7 December 192531 March 1931 6Major GeneralSir William Sinclair-Burgess1 April 193131 March 1937 Chief of the General Staff1Major GeneralSir John Duigan1 April 193731 May 1941 2Lieutenant GeneralSir Edward Puttick1 August 194131 December 1945 3Major GeneralSir Norman Weir1 January 194631 March 1949 4Major GeneralKeith Stewart1 April 194931 March 1952 5Major GeneralWilliam Gentry1 April 195214 August 1955 6Major GeneralStephen Weir15 August 195530 August 1960 7Major GeneralLeonard Thornton*1 September 196031 March 1965 8Major GeneralWalter McKinnon1 April 196531 March 1967 9Major GeneralRobert Dawson1 April 196731 March 1970 10Major GeneralRichard Webb*1 April 197028 September 1971 11Major GeneralLes Pearce29 September 197130 September 1973 12Major GeneralRobin Holloway1 October 197314 November 1976 13Major GeneralRonald Hassett15 November 197615 November 1978 14Major GeneralBrian Poananga16 November 197815 November 1981 15Major GeneralRob Williams16 November 198111 December 1984 16Major GeneralJohn Mace*12 December 198430 November 1987 17Major GeneralDon McIver1 December 198728 February 1989 18Major GeneralBruce Meldrum1 March 198929 February 1992 19Major GeneralAnthony Birks1 March 199224 February 1995 20Major GeneralPiers Reid25 February 199525 February 1998 21Major GeneralMaurice Dodson26 February 1998February 2002 22Major GeneralJerry MateparaeFebruary 2002 30 April 2002 Chief of Army1Major GeneralJerry Mateparae* 1 May 2002 30 April 2006 2Major GeneralLou Gardiner1 May 200630 April 2009 3Major GeneralRhys Jones*1 May 200923 January 2011 4Major GeneralTim Keating*February 2011December 2012 5Major GeneralDave Gawn25 February 20139 September 2015 6Major GeneralPeter Kelly10 September 201531 August 2018 7Major GeneralJohn Boswell1 September 201826 August 2024 8Major GeneralRose King27 August 2024 Incumbent
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