Major General Dave Gawn has been appointed Chief of Army.
The role became vacant when Major General Tim Keating was appointed Vice Chief of Defence in December, Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman said today.
Major General Gawn, currently the Commander of Joint Forces HQ, had exhibited the strategic and leadership characteristics required to lead the Army, Dr Coleman said.
Since enlisting in the New Zealand Army in 1978, Major General Gawn had had a long and successful military career, he said.
Major General Gawn was made Deputy Chief of Army in 2010, and in April 2011 assumed the position of Commander Joint Forces New Zealand.
