Rt Hon Helen Clark
Prime Minister of New Zealand

4 September 2006 Media Statement

Appointment of new Director of GCSB

Prime Minister Helen Clark today announced the appointment of Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson as Director of the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB).

Air Marshal Ferguson will take up his new role when the current Director, Dr Warren Tucker, takes up his new role as Director of Security on 1 November 2006. Mr Ferguson’s term of appointment is for four years.

Helen Clark said Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson, who is currently the Acting Director of the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, retired earlier this year from a distinguished military career which culminated in four years as Chief of Defence Force.

“Air Marshal Ferguson is a skilled leader with strong relationship management abilities. He has proved himself in a demanding chief executive role as the Chief of Defence Force, and has a strong track record of achievement.

“He is experienced at senior levels in the security and intelligence community, with a sound understanding of security and intelligence matters, and a good understanding of the role of Director, GCSB,” Helen Clark said.

The Director is the Chief Executive of the GCSB and is responsible directly to the Minister in Charge of the Bureau (by convention the Prime Minister). The GCSB contributes to the security of New Zealand through the provision of timely foreign signals intelligence to the Government and assisting government agencies to protect their electronic information resources and communications systems.

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CURRICULUM VITAE

BRUCE REID FERGUSON

Education and training qualifications

1970 Graduated as RNZAF pilot
1989 Graduated USAF Air War College
1995 Graduated Royal College of Defence Studies
2000 Graduated Ashridge (UK) Senior Executive Management Course
2001 Senior Fellow, Asia Pacific Strategic Studies College

Career highlights and achievements

1969-73 Pilot training/operational flying
1973-82 Flying instructor/ Commander, Search and Rescue Detachment/operational flying
1982-84 Commanding Officer, Central Flying School
1984-86 Staff Officer to Chief of Air Staff
1986-88 Director, Air Force Personnel/USAF Air War College
1989-91 Officer Commanding, RNZAF Operations Wing
1991-95 Commander, RNZAF Base, Auckland/Royal College of Defence Studies
1995-97 Chief of Air Force Personnel
1997-2001 Asst Chief of Defence Force (Personnel)
2001-06 Chief of Defence Force
2006 Acting Director, Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management

Awards

1977 Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Services in the Air
1984 Air Force Cross
1994 Officer of the Order of the British Empire
2006 Distinguished Service Order (Singapore)
2006 Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit

ENDS

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