Air Commodore Steve Moore, MNZM
Air Component Commander Air Commodore Steve Moore, MNZM
Air Commodore Moore enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force on 13 January 1976 under the University Officer Cadet Scheme, General Duties (Pilot) branch. Following university studies he commenced his pilot training, graduating in April 1980.
Most of Air Commodore Moore’s flying career has been associated with the RNZAF Air Combat Force flying the A-4K Skyhawk and BAC-167 Strikemaster. He also flew the UH-1H Iroquois for a short period, including a seven-month tour in the Sinai Desert in 1982 as part of the New Zealand Contingent to the Multinational Force and Observers, and an exchange with the United States Navy in Antarctica flying the UH-1N.
Air Commodore Moore is a qualified flying instructor and a graduate test pilot from the United Kingdom’s Empire Test Pilot School. He was project test pilot for the A-4K Skyhawk modernisation programme during the late 1980s and a member of the 1986 Kiwi Red Skyhawk formation aerobatic team. As the Commanding Officer of No 2 Squadron he was instrumental in re-locating the unit to HMAS Albatross, Nowra Australia to conduct air defence support flying for the Australian Defence Force under a co-operative agreement.
Command appointments include Commanding Officer of both RNZAF Skyhawk squadrons, Officer Commanding Operations Wing RNZAF Base Ohakea, Base Commander RNZAF Base Ohakea, and Officer Commanding 485 Wing where Air Commodore Moore commanded all RNZAF operational flying and support units. He also commanded the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamyan Province, Afghanistan from Dec 2005 until May 2006.
Air Commodore Moore has held staff appointments within Air Staff, Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand and Headquarters New Zealand Defence Force. He is a graduate of the Asia Pacific Centre for Security Studies Executive Course, and the 2004 Course of the Royal College of Defence Studies in London, England. On 14 January 2008 he was appointed Deputy Chief of Air Force, prior to his current appointment in July 2009 as Air Component Commander of Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand.
In 1997 Air Commodore Moore was invested as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in recognition of his services as Commanding Officer No 75 Squadron. He is married to Mary and they have two teenage daughters, Aleisha and Jessica. He enjoys sailing, golf and any other sport as long as he’s watching it from an armchair in front of television.