Media Advisory
Wednesday, 9 February 2011

A Change at the Top for Naval Support Command

After three years as Deputy Chief of Navy, Commodore Bruce Pepperell will relinquish command to Commodore Wayne Burroughs at an impressive Change of Command Ceremony.

The Change of Command Ceremony is traditionally formal and impressive - designed to strengthen the respect for authority which is vital to any military organisation.

The ceremony will be held 1030am on Friday, 11 February 2011 at the Devonport Naval Base.

The Change of Command takes place when Commodore Burroughs speaks the words, “I have the Naval Support Command,” which are traditionally used to signify the change of watch. The outgoing Deputy Chief of Navy responds with “You have the Naval Support Command”.

Witnessing the ceremony will be personnel from Naval Support Command, invited guests, including the Vice Chief of Defence Force, Rear Admiral Jack Steer, family and friends. The Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral Tony Parr will officiate the Change of Command Ceremony.

Biography - Commodore Wayne Burroughs,

Commodore Wayne Burroughs was born and raised in Hamilton. In 1978 he joined the Royal New Zealand Navy and completed his university training (Bachelor of Commerce) at Auckland University.

His early naval career was initially spent undertaking bridge watch-keeping duties at sea He was appointed Executive Officer of the patrol craft HMNZS TAUPO in 1981 and briefly as Commanding Officer in late 1982.

In 1983 he undertook Supply Officer training and transferred to the Supply specialisation in November 1983. He undertook supply officer staff duties ashore in Wellington and Auckland. He was posted as Supply Officer of HMNZS CANTERBURY (1989-1991) and HMNZS SOUTHLAND (1991-92). In 1994 Commodore Burroughs was appointed Director of Corporate Planning in the Maritime Headquarters. He was part of a small team that implemented a priority based budgeting system which lead to innovative changes to the organisation. This was followed two years later by promotion to Commander and appointment as Fleet Supply Officer.

Commodore Burroughs was Project Director for a major supply chain re-engineering project in 1999/2000. This resulted in significant efficiencies and improved performance levels. He was subsequently appointed Supply Chain Manager in October 2000. Commodore Burroughs has also been a leading advocate of the Naval Excellence programme within Navy. The Nx programme adopted the Baldrige Criteria for Business Excellence as the framework for organisational improvement. He was appointed the first Director of Naval Excellence in 2001.

Commodore Burroughs was appointed Captain Fleet Support in December 2002. During his period as Captain Fleet Support, Commodore Burroughs was the lead negotiator for the letting of the Dockyard Management Contract to VT Fitzroy Ltd in June 2004. In August 2004, Commodore Burroughs directed the first phase of a major re-engineering project in the Engineering organisation of the Navy. Commodore Burroughs was appointed Captain Fleet Personnel and Training in February 2005.

In 2006 he attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in London, graduating with a MA. He returned to Wellington in 2007 and worked on the staff of CDF as a member of the Baseline Review team and then the resulting Defence Transformation Programme Team. Commodore Burroughs was posted into the HQNZDF Plans Branch in October 2008 and led the annual resource allocation process for the NZDF. In July 2009 he had a six month operational posting as the Senior National Officer in Timor Leste, responsible for the NZDF forces in theatre. He also held the post of Deputy Commander of the International Stabilisation Force.

On return from Timor Leste Commodore Burroughs was posted back to the Defence Transformation Programme team tasked to bring the Defence Logistics Command into existence on 1 Jul 10, and then posted as its Chief of Staff.

In his own time he is a keen golfer, an optimistic novice trout fisherman, and father of three adult children.

ENDS

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