Brigadier R.R. (Rhys) Jones has been appointed Commander Joint Forces New Zealand.
2 October 2007
Brigadier R.R. (Rhys) Jones has been appointed Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae, ONZM announced today.
Brigadier Jones is the current Land Component Commander and has served on operations in the Middle East with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation and with the Observer Group Lebanon. On appointment, Brigadier Jones will be promoted to the rank of Major General.
Brigadier Jones replaces Rear Admiral Jack Steer, ONZM who has been appointed Vice Chief of Defence Force.
ENDS
For further information please contact Captain Zac Prendergast, Defence Public Relations, on 04 529 6031 or 021 806 926.
Biographical Notes:
BRIGADIER R.R. (RHYS) JONES
Brigadier Richard Rhys Jones was born in Timaru, New Zealand on 2 May 1960. He was educated at Wanganui Boy’s College and attained University Entrance.
Brigadier Jones enlisted into the New Zealand Army in December 1978 and attended the Royal Military College, Duntroon Australia from 1979 to 1982. He graduated into the Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps at the rank of Lieutenant in December 1982, with a Bachelor of Arts degree. During his career he has attended staff college at Fort Leavenworth, USA, and higher defence college at the Australian Defence College. He has also attained a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies from La Trobe University (Melbourne) as well as a Diploma in Qualitative Futures.
Within the Armoured Corps Brigadier Jones has held a variety of command appointments, including Chief Instructor of the School of Armour and Commanding Officer of New Zealand’s armoured regiment; Queen Alexandra’s Mounted Rifles (QAMR). He has also commanded at Formation level, commanding 3rd Land Force Group based in the South Island of New Zealand.
In addition to the School of Armour, Brigadier Jones has held a variety of training posts. In 1987/88 he was the New Zealand Instructor at the Australian Defence Force Academy (Officer Cadets). From 1992 to 95 he was an instructor at New Zealand’s Tactical School, becoming the Chief Instructor for his last 18 months. He was also the New Zealand Directing Staff at the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies, part of the Australian Defence College.
Brigadier Jones has had operational duty in the Middle East with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation, as an observer, then Operations Officer with the Observer Group Lebanon.
His staff appointments have been mainly within the Development area, being at various times the branch head of Doctrine in the Land Force HQ and heading the Force Development branch of Army General Staff. His last appointment was as the Assistant Chief (Development) in the Headquarters, New Zealand Defence Force. Brigadier Jones currently holds the appointment of the Land Component Commander within Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand.
Brigadier Jones is married to Debbie and they have three children. His hobbies include reading history, war gaming and black powder shooting.