New Defence Force chief announced

Major General Rhys Jones. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Major General Richard Rhys Jones has been named the new head of New Zealand's Defence Force (NZDF).

Prime Minister John Key announced the new Defence Force chief and his promotion to Lieutenant General at his post-Cabinet press conference this afternoon.

Maj Gen Jones, who has been in charge of the Army, was appointed for three years, starting January 24.

"He has the strategic leadership, intellectual capacity, management experience and personal qualities the new position requires," Mr Key said.

Maj Gen Jones takes over from Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae, who has left Defence to run the Government Communications Security Bureau, starting in February.

The NZDF website said the 50-year-old Maj Gen Jones was originally from Timaru, was educated at Wanganui Boys College and attained University Entrance.

He enlisted with the Army in December 1978 and attended the Royal Military College, Duntroon in Australia from 1979 to 1982. He graduated into the Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps at the rank of Lieutenant in December 1982, with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

During his career he has attended staff college at Fort Leavenworth, USA, and higher defence college at the Australian Defence College. He has also attained a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies from La Trobe University (Melbourne) as well as a Diploma in Qualitative Futures.

He has done a range of training roles and has had operational duty in the Middle East with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation, as an observer, then Operations Officer with the Observer Group Lebanon.

He has commanded at every senior level before becoming Chief of Army last May.

Maj Gen Jones is married with three children.

The website lists his hobbies as reading history, war gaming and black powder shooting.

- NZPA, NZ Herald staff