WESTON, Richard John

W55979, Lieutenant Colonel, New Zealand Army

CITATION

Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit

New Year Honours List 31 December 2005

Major WESTON deployed to Medan in Indonesia from 8 January to 26 February 2005 to serve in the combined Joint Task Force Headquarters,

established to control the Australian Defence Force and New Zealand Defence Force assets and personnel committed to the relief efforts, following

the Boxing Day 2004 Tsunami.  He filled the appointment of J1 Personnel in the rank of Acting Lieutenant Colonel.  As a logistics officer, he has had

very little exposure to personnel policy and management issues.  This was further complicated by the fact that he was dealing in policy issues for a

foreign army.  He nevertheless worked long hours to ensure that the forces personnel needs, such as welfare, pay and allowances were accorded

the appropriate priority and staff actions and his contributions helped to ensure the success of the mission. 

New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration

Queen's Birthday Honours 2 June 2014

Lieutenant Colonel WESTON was originally appointed to command the last Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan, and later led the

Theatre Extraction Team.  In May 2012 he led the strategic reconnaissance for the extraction of the Reconstruction Team and other New Zealand

assets from Bamyan province. He was then hand-picked to command the theatre extraction operation. Beginning in October 2012, he oversaw the

establishment of communication links and processes required to extract equipment and personnel from Bamyan in the most efficient and

cost-effective manner. In this role he bore the responsibility for the execution of a complex redeployment from an isolated location in challenging

environmental conditions, requiring the co-ordination of transport resources from New Zealand and coalition partners, as well as local contractors,

for the movement of more than 750 tonnes of equipment and all Bamyan-based personnel. He also oversaw the closure of Kiwi Base and

negotiated its handover to the Afghan government. He assumed command of Kiwi Base and maintained the security of the area until he and his team departed on the last aircraft. Lieutenant Colonel WESTON’s professionalism, dedication and leadership played a significant role in the successful extraction and return of Defence assets and personnel to New Zealand.

KNOWN AWARDS

Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM)

New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration (DSD)

New Zealand Operational Service Medal

NATO Medal

Former Yugoslavia

New Zealand General Service Medal

Bougainville

New Zealand General Service Medal Afghanistan (Primary)

NATO Medal

ISAF

New Zealand Armed Forces Award

New Zealand Defence Service Medal

Regular

NOTES

Born

Died

THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT