Outgoing head of the NZDF Air Marshal Kevin Short is made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) and Wing Commander Mark Whiteside receives a Distinguished Service Decoration (DSD).
Air Marshal Kevin Short has been appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in recognition of his nearly 50-year career in the NZDF, including his role as the Chief of Defence Force (CDF).
As the longest serving CDF in more than 50 years (2018 to 2024), AM Short led the NZDF through significant and unprecedented domestic and global events, including the Whakaari/White Island volcanic eruption, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the evacuation of New Zealanders from Kabul during the 2021 Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.
“I wasn’t expecting it and I was totally caught out, said AM Short. “I feel really honoured and quite chuffed about it. I’ve spent all of my adult life dedicated to the Defence Force so it means a lot to receive this level of recognition.”
“I will wear the CNZM on behalf of everyone who serves in the Defence Force. I see this as an acknowledgement of not only my effort and dedication to service, but also that of everyone I have had the privilege of leading and working alongside,” he said.
Air Marshal Short’s citation also acknowledged his work in a resource-constrained, pandemic environment, managing complex capability updates, overseeing military and humanitarian aid operations in New Zealand and overseas and leading important initiatives in leadership and diversity.
AM Short joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) in 1976 and his first role as a navigator. He received promotions to navigator leader, tactical coordinator and aircraft captain, and clocked over 5,000 flying hours in the P-3K2 Orion maritime surveillance aircraft.
In 2006-07 he was the commander of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan.
Earlier this year he was awarded the United States’ Commander of the Legion of Merit, the Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia (Military Division) in 2022 and the Honorary Gallant Commander of the Malaysian Armed Forces (First Degree) in 2019.
The citation for AM Short’s CNZM reads:
For services to the New Zealand Defence Force
Air Marshal Kevin Short has commanded at all levels of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), latterly as Chief of Defence Force (CDF) from 2018 to 2024, the longest serving CDF in more than 50 years.
Air Marshal Short first joined the New Zealand Air Force in 1976. He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2006 as a Task Group Commander, providing leadership for the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamiyan Province. He was appointed Deputy Chief of Air Force in 2011, later becoming Commander Joint Forces New Zealand and Vice Chief of Defence Force. His tenure as CDF has encompassed significant and unprecedented domestic and global events, from the recovery of bodies following the Whakaari/White Island volcanic eruption, the COVID-19 pandemic, to the evacuation of New Zealanders from Kabul during the 2021 Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. The pandemic saw the largest deployment of NZDF personnel in a generation, into an unfamiliar environment of establishing and operating managed isolation and quarantine facilities. He oversaw military and humanitarian aid operations domestically and overseas in a resource-constrained, pandemic environment, while also overseeing a significant update of the Capability Management System and a large re-equipment programme for NZDF. He has led The Totara Commitment, an initiative bringing together South Pacific Defence Chiefs. Air Marshal Short has overseen inclusivity and diversity inroads within NZDF, which has been recognised with gender equality and rainbow inclusion awards.
The CNZM is one of two recognitions for the NZDF in this King’s Birthday Honours list, with Wing Commander Mark Whiteside receiving a Distinguished Service Decoration (DSD). Wing Commander Whiteside has been recignised for his role in the acquisition and deliver of the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.
The citation for Wing Commander Whiteside’s DSD reads:
For services to the New Zealand Defence Force
Wing Commander Mark Whiteside was posted to the Airborne Surveillance Maritime Patrol Integrated Project Team in early 2019 and has since been a leading figure in New Zealand’s acquisition and delivery of the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.As the Project Capability Integration Lead, Wing Commander Whiteside’s approach enabled the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) to implement training and infrastructure solutions that allowed a seamless transition from the P-3K2 Orion to the P-8A Poseidon. He produced an exemplary capability integration plan which is now widely utilised across other projects. Subsequently, as the Commanding Officer of the Poseidon Transition Unit (now 5 Squadron), he successfully led the transition of the new capability from RNZAF Base Auckland to RNZAF Base Ohakea. His leadership enabled the new unit to establish a positive culture and identity, resulting in successful integration of up to 170 personnel and their families into the RNZAF Base Ohakea community. He has overseen the achievement of initial operating milestones and has worked to ensure equity in the conditions of service for those involved with delivering the P-8A capability. Wing Commander Whiteside’s efforts have helped enhance the RNZAF’s reputation among its partners and New Zealand’s contribution to regional security with introduction of this new capability.
