Officers have been selected to head up the new organisations to be formed on 1 July 1997 in line with the 97/98 budget. At the same time the process of reducing the number of senior officers has begun with a redundancy program for nine officers at two star level.
As part of the process, the Chief of the Defence Force, General John Baker today announced the promotion of three senior officers to two star level as part of the implementation of the Defence Reform Program.
Commodore John Lord, previously Naval Training Commander, will be promoted to Rear Admiral and take over as Head Joint Education and Training.
Commodore Simon Harrington, formerly Director General Recruiting, will be promoted to Rear Admiral and will take over as Support Commander - Navy.
Brigadier Peter Dunn, previously Military Head of the Defence Efficiency Review, will be promoted to Major General and take over as Head Personnel Executive.
General Baker said, "A crucial part of reforming the Defence Organisation is ensuring that we have the best possible managers in place planning the way ahead. To ensure a smooth transition the incumbents of the new positions will be pulled off line from May 1 to commence their planning.
This will give them time to consider organisational design, resourcing and the like before they take over the positions, formally, on I July 1997."