NZ Army’s Major General Rob Krushka takes command of Joint Forces New Zealand

Joint Forces New Zealand plans, commands and supports operations, as well as joint and combined readiness training activities.

“We help keep New Zealanders safe and secure, and protect New Zealand’s national interests. It’s an honour and privilege to be here as Commander Joint Forces New Zealand,’’ Major General Krushka said.

Major General Krushka was promoted to the rank of Major General alongside new Chief of Army Major General Rose King last week.

Before his appointment to the role he was most recently the Chief Joint Defence Services, a position he’d held since 2019.

Major General Krushka has spent 35 years in the Army after enlisting in January 1989, later undergoing officer training at the Officer Cadet School (NZ) in Waiouru.

His operational experience has seen him deployed overseas as a United Nations military advisor in Iraq, company commander in East Timor and as a detachment commander in Antarctica.

Throughout his career in service he’s held a variety of roles across regimental, operational planning, logistics and command for both the Army and wider New Zealand Defence Force.

In 2006 Major General Krushka was awarded an Australian Defence Force Deputy Chief of Joint Operations Commendation for his support to the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami and later that year was appointed as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Major General Krushka’s change of command ceremony took place at Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand in Upper Hutt on Friday.