Rear Admiral A.J. (Tony) Parr, MVO
Rear Admiral Tony Parr was born in Wellington, New Zealand. Raised in Fiji, he attended New Plymouth Boys High School as a boarder. He graduated from Waikato University in 1977 with a Bachelor of Social Science in politics, and completed one year of a Bachelor of Law degree, before joining the Royal New Zealand Navy in January 1980 as a Sub Lieutenant in the Seaman Branch.
From 1982-1986 Rear Admiral Parr served variously as a Watchkeeping Officer in HMNZ Ships CANTERBURY, WELLINGTON and WAIKATO. In December 1983, he was appointed in Command of the Lake Class Patrol Craft, HMNZS PUKAKI (this name is to be re-used for one of the Inshore Patrol Vessels commissioned into service in 2007).
Rear Admiral Parr was appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) for his services during Her Majesty the Queen’s 1986 visit to New Zealand, and in his role as New Zealand Equerry to the Queen.
In 1987, Rear Admiral Parr attended a Surface Warfare Officer course in Australia. He remained in Australia for a two year exchange with the Royal Australian Navy, during which he served in HMA Ships WATSON, ADELAIDE and PARRAMATTA.
Rear Admiral Parr returned from Australia to join HMNZS CANTERBURY as Principal Warfare Officer in January 1990. He was posted as Staff Officer Communications for the Staff of the Commodore Auckland later that year. He was the Executive Officer, HMNZS WAIKATO for two years from November 1991, before being appointed Deputy Officer Training School Officer, HMNZS TAMAKI.
In November 1995 Rear Admiral Parr was promoted to Commander and appointed Commanding Officer, HMNZS WAIKATO. Rear Admiral Parr was appointed as the Fleet Personnel Officer in June 1997 and thereafter became the first Commanding Officer of the ANZAC Class frigate HMNZS TE MANA on 17 August 1998. He relinquished command in April 2001.
Since leaving TE MANA, Rear Admiral Parr has served at HQ Joint Forces New Zealand. On 13 March 2002, he was promoted to Captain and appointed as the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Personnel) and Provost Marshal of the Royal New Zealand Navy.
In January 2003 Rear Admiral Parr was granted the acting rank of Commodore and deployed as the Senior National Officer, National Planning Element, Headquarters, US Central Command, Tampa. On his return to New Zealand, he resumed the post of Assistant Chief of Navy (Personnel). In December 2003 he was appointed as the Assistant Chief of Navy (Capability).
He attended the Defence Strategic Studies Course in Australia during 2005, and appointed as the Deputy Assistant Chief (Personnel) on his return in January 2006.
Rear Admiral Parr was promoted to Commodore and appointed to the position of Deputy Chief of Navy on 13 April 2006. He was posted to the position of Maritime Component Commander on 30 November 2007.
He was promoted to his current rank and assumed the position of Chief of Navy on 30 April 2009.