Royal Australian Air Force officer heads NZDF Air and Space Warfare Centre

Fresh from a three-year deployment to the United States’ Pentagon, Group Captain Duyvene de Wit was not expecting another foreign posting, so being asked to fill the role was an “unexpected privilege”.

“The role offers an opportunity to centralise the battle-worthiness of air and space power for the NZDF.”

The centre will work alongside the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s (RNZAF) air and space units to understand current and next-generation communications, sensor and electronic warfare capabilities.

It will be based at RNZAF Base Ohakea and initially have a staff of 17, with personnel divided between Ohakea and RNZAF Base Auckland.

It was important to build an enhanced understanding of how air and space effects could be used to protect and promote New Zealand's interest in a contemporary environment, given the current volatile geopolitical landscape, Group Captain Duyvene de Wit said.

The Australian military’s Air and Space Warfare Centre had operated for a decade and there would be advantages in leveraging from its experience, he said.

“This is an excellent opportunity. The team, while small in comparison to partner organisations, is highly experienced and will build the foundation of an entity that is fit-for-purpose and nested within a Joint/all-of-government framework. They are all genuinely enthusiastic about making this work.”

The centre would embody the military’s primary role of being the profession of arms, Group Captain Duyvene de Wit said.

“After 80-plus years of a stable Indo-Pacific, that stability is no longer guaranteed and while Defence provides many benefits to being in service, ultimately we signed up to defend our nation and its interests.

“When called upon, we serve our country and make sacrifices; from having to leave our family for extended periods through to the ultimate sacrifice of giving your life to a just cause. That is a sobering, but a real aspect of what we do.”

In recent years, the NZDF and Australian Defence Force have exchanged personnel for senior roles. The RNZAF’s Air Commodore Susie Barnes is currently the RAAF’s Deputy Air Commander Australia.

Group Captain Duyvene de Wit’s journey to his New Zealand posting began in 1998 as an Air Traffic Controller (ATC).

“There was a worldwide shortage of traffic controllers and it turned out I had a natural ability to do the role - it's like a big Rubik's cube in the sky.”

After a few years he took those skills and became the first RAAF Joint Terminal Attack Controller to deploy with the Australian Army. This led to other unique roles including the first Officer Aviation-ATC to command a flying unit and to work in the United States Joint Staff/Pentagon; and first non-aircrew executive officer of the operational training 78 Wing.

In his latest role, Group Captain Duyvene de Wit said it was important RNZAF personnel understood what the centre could do for them.

“We're an enabler. It is important the flying squadrons and other frontline units are getting the support they require through a coordinated, systematic approach to the provision of air and space power.”