Commodore Ross Smith, MNZM, RNZN
Commodore Ross Smith was born in Oamaru, New Zealand and educated at Waitaki Boys’ High School and the University of Otago (Dunedin). He joined the Royal New Zealand Navy in January 1981 in the rank of Sub Lieutenant on the General List of Officers in the Seaman specialisation.
Commodore Smith conducted his early training in HMNZ Ships TARANAKI, CANTERBURY and HMS BACCHANTE which later became HMNZS WELLINGTON. On gaining his Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate he served in HMNZ Ships MONOWAI as a Watchkeeper, and CANTERBURY as Navigating Officer.
Following Principal Warfare Officer training in the United Kingdom (1987-88), Commodore Smith served in HMNZS WAIKATO as the PWO(U) and HMNZS TUI as the Towed Array Sonar Trials Officer. He returned to HMNZS WAIKATO (1991) as the Operations Officer before conducting a short tour of duty as Executive Officer in HMNZS SOUTHLAND. He departed SOUTHLAND in mid 1993 and underwent Staff Training at the Royal Australian Navy Staff College and was subsequently posted to the ANZAC Ship Project Office in Canberra, Australia.
Commodore Smith returned to New Zealand in 1996 and took up an operational position on the staff of the Maritime Commander, New Zealand. In November 1997 he was attached to the New Zealand Army as the Naval Liaison Officer at Headquarters Truce Monitoring Group (TMG) at Bougainville.
In recognition of his contribution to the TMG Commodore Smith was appointed Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in June 1998. On return from Bougainville in February 1998, Commodore Smith undertook various advanced training courses in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Commodore Smith was appointed the Commanding Officer of HMNZS TE KAHA in September 1998 and remained in command until March 2001. During his period in command TE KAHA conducted presence and surveillance operations in the deep Southern Ocean, operated with coalition naval surface forces during the Timor-Leste crisis, joined multi-national forces in the Arabian Gulf conducting interdiction operations in support of UN sanctions against Iraq and participated in peace support operations in the Solomon Islands.
On completion of his period in command, Commodore Smith was appointed as the Director Naval Warfare in the Force Development Division at Naval Staff in Wellington. He was subsequently seconded to the Ministry of Defence for duties with Project Protector, a multi-ship acquisition project.
In mid-2004 to early 2006 Commodore Smith was posted to Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand firstly as the Chief Staff Officer – Operations (J3) and then as Chief Staff Officer – Plans (J5). Commodore Smith saw further operational service when he commanded the NZ Provincial Reconstruction Team at Bamyan in the central highlands of Afghanistan during the period April to October 2006.
In December 2006, Commodore Smith took up the appointment as Assistant Chief of Navy (Personnel), a post he filled until February 2009. During this period he undertook extra-mural studies at Victoria University and in March 2009 was awarded a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies.
On 1 May 2009 Commodore Smith was appointed to the position of Maritime Component Commander at Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand.