Commodore David Anson
20 November 2006
by Charlotte Lee-Smith
Whenever Commodore David Anson wants to reflect on the highlights of his 33-year Navy career, he simply needs to glance at the world map on his office wall.
Locations across the globe mark various high points: the Indian Ocean in the early days of the Falkland’s War; Tampa, Florida, the organising hub for the war on terror; Denmark for a six-week life-changing study tour; and the Royal College of Defence Studies in London.
Commodore Anson says his Navy career has been a series of adventures both at home and abroad. “I can sum it up by saying that the job I’m doing at any time in the Navy is the best job I’ve ever had. In that respect there have been no low points, just high and higher points.”
Unsurprisingly, Commodore Anson describes his current role as the Maritime Component Commander (MCC) at Headquarter Joint Forces in Trentham as the best job in the Navy. As MCC he is responsible for Navy ships and their personnel involved in operations and exercises both in New Zealand and overseas and planning for the new Project Protector fleet when it is delivered to the Navy over the next year. It’s a role that draws on his years of naval experience; a journey that began when a seventh former from Invercargill decided to join the Royal New Zealand Navy.
The young Commodore Anson seemed destined for the sea. “I had a strong orientation with the sea through my father who worked for P&O shipping, and I also had more of a romantic awareness of the Navy through a particular forebear, Admiral George Anson whose exploits in the Royal Navy in the 18th century were fairly legendary,” he explains.
Prompted partly by a friend who had joined the Army, and partly by a desire to see the world, Commodore Anson applied for the Navy and was selected for officer training. Commodore Anson admits his journey from high school to seaman officer with the Royal New Zealand Navy was not all plain sailing. “In some respects I think I entered the Navy for the wrong reasons, but soon thereafter I found the right reasons – the Navy’s values, what it does, its people and how important they are.”
The Navy has also provided the self-confessed technology and innovation enthusiast the chance to trial new ideas. “I’m definitely keen to try new ideas and get the best out of the technology we have invested in. A number of projects I have been involved in have been self-initiated and I’m really grateful to the Navy for giving me those opportunities.” While working as a navigating officer, Commodore Anson initiated development of a computer-based astro-navigation package that gained him and a colleague a commendation from the Chief of Naval Staff. His second commendation was awarded for work in introducing a unique gunnery system. He later pursued acquisition of Navy’s first real computer-based emulator for the gunnery system.
In 1988, Commodore Anson’s passion for technology was boosted by a six-week study tour of industries and businesses in Denmark organised by Rotary International. He says the entire six weeks was life-changing, but one particular event stood out. “We visited a wind turbine manufacturer and I was watching this guy doing diagnostic tests on a computer screen. I looked out the window and asked which of the turbines he was testing – and he said it’s in Jordan. I was blown away by that – a huge light went on in my mind about the power of technology.”
Commodore Anson saw how the Navy could benefit from direct applications of this technology. “It generated a lot of passion in me about our potential to exploit similar sorts of concepts to manage and operate our ships better and huge passion to eek the most out of the Project Protector fleet along similar lines.”
Another key formative period was his time spent at US Central Command in Tampa, Florida working as New Zealand’s Senior National Representative under US General Tommy Franks. He describes General Franks as a highly inspirational leader. “He was juggling many global problems and tensions, but he had a lot of time for his troops.”
Commodore Anson is pleased that Navy leadership is actively investing time in personnel. “We get out and talk to people now more than I can ever recall senior leaders doing before. It takes up time, but it’s incredibly rewarding.”
Commodore Anson’s experiences abroad provided new insights that have helped in the wide range of roles he has held in the Navy. The list is impressive: Principal Warfare Officer, Commanding Officer of the HMNZS Canterbury, Waikato and Southland, Director of Naval Warfare, Director of Naval Combat Force Development, Naval Advisor to the High Commission in Canberra, and Captain Fleet Personnel and Training.
These busy roles have left very little time for Commodore Anson to indulge in his interests outside the Navy. These include malt whiskey, wine and travel. He admits that work has a tendency to take over his life. “My wife and I bought a bach with the intention of slowing our lifestyle down a little. It’s worked to some extent but there’s room for improvement. It’s difficult though, you can get pretty passionate in this organisation – it’s not just a job.”
But as the MCC, Commodore Anson has found a new outlet for his energies. “There is a very big programme of work with the first priority being the successful integration of the Project Protector fleet. This project also provides me with an opportunity to incorporate my thoughts around technology exploitation as we integrate this great new fleet into the existing Navy. The challenge is to do this in a way that is consistent with our vision and in a way which demonstrates that we are well on the way to becoming a world class organisation with a pretty courageous vision.”
Commodore Anson thrives on a challenge, and once the Project Protector fleet has set sail, so to speak, he will be ready for something new. “I’m sure there will be something exciting and challenging on the cards – there always is. In the meantime I am confident the Navy is in good shape.”
ENDS