ROBERTS Neil Andrew
X21434, Warrant Officer Stores Accountant, Royal New Zealand Navy

CITATION
New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration
New Year Honours List 2009
To receive The New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration (DSD) Warrant Officer Roberts has served as Warrant Officer of the
Navy since January 2006. This is a demanding position and one that requires special skills and commitment. He has been
especially effective in exercising an international influence at a level that has never before been achieved. He was instrumental in
arranging the first ever regional Navies’ warrant officers’ seminar held in Auckland. This event established a benchmark that other
Navies are now striving to emulate.
He has also established particularly effective networks with his counterparts overseas and these have enhanced the reputation of
the RNZN and opened up a wide range of experiential and personal development opportunities for RNZN senior ratings. He has
also worked closely with the United States Navy’s Pacific Fleet to develop an enhanced programme in Hawaii for the Navy’s sailors
of the year. He has pioneered a comprehensive range of international engagement activities that would have been regarded as
very unlikely a few years ago.

New Zealand Meritorious Service Medal
Awarded
Warrant Officer Stores Accountant Neil Andrew Roberts joined the Royal New Zealand Navy in 1974 as a Junior Stores Accountant.  He has
served on Her Majesty’s New Zealand Ships CANTERBURY, WAIKATO, SOUTHLAND and WELLINGTON; and in the shore establishments
TASMAN, PHILOMEL and TAMAKI.  He was promoted to Warrant Officer in 1995.  Since May 1995 he has held the senior post of his specialisation as the Fleet Supply Warrant Officer.
During his service Warrant Officer Roberts has consistently applied himself with great willingness and energy in all positions he has held.  He has a highly developed sense of duty and has produced outstanding work results.  He is reliable and professional at all times and is an ideal role model to the junior members of his branch.
In his current post as Fleet Supply Warrant Officer, Warrant Officer Roberts. Excellence, both, within the stores specialisation and as Stores Accountant Branch Manager, has been obvious.  At a time when both logistics and the management of personnel have undergone a period of great change, he has risen to the challenges these areas have presented, regularly devoting additional hours in order to provide innovative solutions to problems.  He has called on his wealth of knowledge and personal experience in doing so.  At no time has he allowed the pressures of his work to diminish his performance and he retained a positive and level headed approach to all matters.
This award is made in recognition of the sustained exceptional contribution that Warrant Officer Roberts has made, far beyond the normal requirement, and for his perseverance in continuing to meet the fast changing challenges in both the logistics and personnel management fields.  His application, enthusiasm and dedication to his branch, and the service, remains an inspiration to all others within the service and makes him a highly deserving recipient of the New Zealand Meritorious Service Medal.

KNOWN AWARDS
New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration
New Zealand Operational Service Medal
New Zealand General Service Medal
Indian Ocean, Arabian Gulf
New Zealand Meritorious Service Medal
Royal New Zealand Navy Long Service & Good Conduct Medal and bar
New Zealand Defence Service Medal
Regular

NOTES
Born
Died
THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT