He made his name as an openside flanker, but All Black legend Richie McCaw is now a wing commander.
The two-time World Cup winner has been an honorary Royal New Zealand Air Force squadron leader since 2009, and has now been promoted to wing commander.
The new position was announced at a leadership forum at Ohakea. He was appointed by the chief of Air Force.
In a post on Facebook the Air Force said McCaw's career was built on the "very similar values that [New Zealand Defence Force] holds dear - courage, commitment and comradeship".
