Group Captain John Mathewson was officially welcomed to the role of Director of Air Force Reserves at Defence Headquarters on 23 August 2010.
GPCAPT Mathewson
GPCAPT Mathewson brings his experience from being an ex Royal New Zealand Air Force Commanding Officer No. 75 Squadron, together with a wealth of experience from Air New Zealand in the strategic planning arena, to bear on his new appointment.
GPCAPT Mathewson is posted to the Directorate of Reserve Forces and Youth Development (DRFYD). DRFYD is responsible for developing and delivering strategy and associated policy for:
- Defence Force Reserve Force (ResF)
- NZDF Youth Development, and
- NZ Cadet Force (NZCF).
DRFYD also has command and control responsibilities for the delivery of NZCF support and Youth Development initiatives. Once approved by the Chief of Defence, Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae, DRFYD will also monitor policy implementation and maintain its currency.
The combination of GPCAPT Mathewson’s commercial and business expertise combined with military perspectives will provide a firm foundation for driving the RNZAF Active Reserves forward, and delivering the Total Defence Workforce Plan.