Air Vice Marshal Peter Stockwell, AFC
Air Vice Marshal P.J. Stockwell, AFC
Air Vice Marshal Stockwell enlisted into the Royal New Zealand Air Force in January 1973 as a Navigator under training. On promotion to the rank of pilot officer in March 1974, he started 173 Navigators Course. Completing 173 Navigators course as the sole graduate, he was then posted to No. 1 Squadron flying B170 Bristol Freighters.
He was promoted to the rank of flying officer in December 1974 and to flight lieutenant in December 1977. Prior to completing a Junior Staff Course in May 1980, AVM Stockwell held flying posts at Number 41 Squadron (B170) based in Singapore and Number 40 Squadron (C130 Hercules) based in Auckland.
Following a tour as Directing Staff at the Command Training Squadron at Wigram, AVM Stockwell qualified as a Navigation Instructor and spent time instructing at the Navigation and Air Electronics Training Squadron on F27 Friendships. He then returned to No 40 Squadron (C130 and B727) as the Navigator Leader and was promoted to the rank of squadron leader in July 1985.
In 1989, AVM Stockwell attended the year long RAF Advanced Staff Course at Bracknell in the UK, before returning to Wellington as the Personal Staff Officer to the Chief of Air Staff. On promotion to the rank of wing commander in August 1990, he was appointed Director of Air Staff Policy and Plans. In July 1992 he completed the Australian Defence Force Joint Services Staff Course in Canberra before returning to Air Staff in December 1992. In April 1993 he was posted to Auckland as Commanding Officer No. 40 Squadron. After two years at No. 40 Squadron AVM Stockwell was posted to Officer Commanding Operations Wing RNZAF Base Auckland. In 1995, AVM Stockwell was awarded the Air Force Cross for his leadership of No 40 Squadron. He was awarded the New Zealand Armed Forces Award on 09 January 1988 and clasp on 9 January 2003.
In August 1996, AVM Stockwell was promoted to the rank of Group Captain and posted to Canada as the NZ Defence Air Advisor. He was appointed Base Commander, RNZAF Base Woodbourne In January 2000. In January 2001 he was posted to the appointment of Director of Air Force Training under Project Refocus.
AVM Stockwell deployed to Tampa, Florida, in May 2003 as the NZDF Senior National Representative at the USCENTCOM, for which he held acting rank of Air Commodore. He returned to Woodbourne in November 2003 and reverted back to Group Captain rank.
In February 2004, AVM Stockwell was promoted to Air Commodore and appointed Deputy Chief of Air Force. In October 2007 he was posted to HQ JFNZ as the Air Component Commander and then in January 2008 to HQNZDF as the Assistant Chief Strategic Commitments and Intelligence.
He was promoted to his current rank and appointed Commander Joint Forces New Zealand on 1 May 2009.