Rear Admiral Tony Parr, ONZM, RNZN
Rear Admiral Tony Parr was born in Wellington, New Zealand on 4 August 1955. He was raised in Fiji and attended New Plymouth Boys High School as a boarder. Having graduated from Waikato University in 1977 with a Bachelor of Social Science in politics and after completing the first year of a Bachelor of Law degree in 1979, he joined the Royal New Zealand Navy in January 1980 in the rank of Sub Lieutenant in the Seaman Branch.
Between January 1980 and August 1982, he underwent training ashore in HMNZS TAMAKI and at sea in HMNZ Ships TARANAKI and CANTERBURY. On obtaining his Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate, he was appointed as a Bridge Watchkeeping Officer in CANTERBURY in August 1982. While serving in this frigate, he qualified as a Helicopter Approach Controller.
In December 1983, he was appointed in Command of the Lake Class Patrol Craft, HMNZS PUKAKI before returning to HMNZS WELLINGTON as a Watchkeeping Officer in 1985. From November 1985 to March 1986, Rear Admiral Parr was involved firstly in the preparations for Her Majesty The Queen's 1986 visit to New Zealand, and then as New Zealand Equerry to the Queen. He was appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) for his services during this visit.
In March 1986 he returned to WELLINGTON as a Watchkeeping Officer and following this was posted to HMNZS WAIKATO in the same capacity. Between January and December 1987, he attended a Surface Warfare Officer course in Australia and on completion he remained in Australia for two years' exchange service with the Royal Australian Navy. During this time he served in Her Majesty's Australian Ships WATSON, ADELAIDE & PARRAMATTA.
In December 1989 Rear Admiral Parr returned from Australia and joined CANTERBURY as Principal Warfare Officer in January 1990. In October that year, he was posted for the Staff of the Commodore Auckland as Staff Officer Communications. In November 1991, he was appointed as the Executive Officer, WAIKATO until November 1993 when he was appointed as the Deputy Officer Training School Officer, HMNZS TAMAKI. Between October and November 1995, he successfully completed a Maritime Tactical Course before being promoted to Commander and as Commanding Officer, WAIKATO.
He was appointed as the Fleet Personnel Officer in June 1997 and thereafter became the first Commanding Officer of the ANZAC Class frigate HMNZS TE MANA on 17 August 1998. He relinquished command in April 2001. Since leaving TE MANA, he has served at Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand. On 13 March 2002, he was promoted to Captain and appointed as the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Personnel) and Provost Marshal of the Royal New Zealand Navy.
In January 2003 he was granted the acting rank of Commodore and deployed as the Senior National Officer, National Planning Element, Headquarters, US Central Command, Tampa, Florida. In June the same year, having returned to New Zealand, he resumed the post of Assistant Chief of Navy (Personnel) and relinquished his acting rank. In December 2003 he was appointed as the Assistant Chief of Navy (Capability). He attended the Defence Strategic Studies Course in Australia and on his return in January 2006 he was appointed as the Deputy Assistant Chief (Personnel). On 1 May 2006 he was promoted to Commodore and appointed Deputy Chief of Navy, a position he held until 30 November 2007 when he was appointed Maritime Component Commander. He received the rank of Rear Admiral and was promoted to Chief of Navy on 30 April 2009.
Rear Admiral Parr is married with two children.