Tim Keating (soldier)

Lieutenant General Timothy James Keating CNZM is a former New Zealand Army officer and Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force. He was appointed Chief of Defence Force in 2014, immediately following his tenure as Vice Chief of Defence Force. He served as Chief of Army from 2011 to 2012.^[1]

Tim Keating
Lieutenant General Keating in 2016
Allegiance	New Zealand
Service / branch	New Zealand Army
Years of service	1982–2018
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands	Chief of the Defence Force (2014–18) Vice Chief of Defence Force (2012–14) Chief of Army (2011–12) 2nd Land Force Group (2007–09) CRIB 6 (2005) Officer Cadet School (2001–04) 1st New Zealand Special Air Services Group (1999–01)
Battles / wars	Multinational Force and Observers War in Afghanistan
Awards	Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States)

Keating served as Commander, Crib Rotation 6, the Provincial Reconstruction Team, in the early years of the deployment to Bamiyan, Afghanistan.

Keating was promoted to lieutenant general and took over as Chief of Defence Force (CDF) for a three-year term on 1 February 2014.^[2][3] On 3 April 2018 Keating announced he would be stepping down as CDF on the completion of his term on 30 June. Keating did not give a reason for his resignation, but said he was not standing down due to the allegations about Operation Burnham in 2010 which was the subject of the book Hit & Run.^[4] Keating was succeeded as CDF by Air Marshal Kevin Short on 1 July 2018.^[5]

Honours

In the 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours, Keating was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.^[6] He was promoted to Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2019 New Year Honours.^[7]

References

1. "Chief of Defence Force: Lieutenant General Timothy (Tim) Keating, MNZM". NZDF. 26 May 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
2. "Major-General Keating named Chief of Defence". The New Zealand Herald. 10 December 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
3. "New Chief of Defence Force announced". TVNZ. 10 December 2013. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
4. "Tim Keating to stand down as head of the New Zealand Defence Force". Stuff.co.nz. 3 April 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
5. "Air Vice-Marshal Kevin Short is the new chief of the Defence Force". Stuff.co.nz. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
6. "Queen's Birthday honours list 2008". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 2 June 2008. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
7. "New Year honours list 2019". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2019.

Military offices
Preceded by Lieutenant General Rhys Jones	Chief of Defence Force 2014–2018	Succeeded by Air Marshal Kevin Short
Preceded by Rear Admiral Jack Steer	Vice Chief of Defence Force 2012–2014	Succeeded by Air Vice Marshal Kevin Short
Preceded by Major General Rhys Jones	Chief of Army 2011–2012	Succeeded by Major General Dave Gawn