Warrant Officer of the Air Force, Warrant Officer Guy Lipsham
The Warrant Officer of the Air Force (WOAF) is the most senior airman reporting to the Chief of Air Force (CAF). They advise on morale, health and well-being of RNZAF personnel.
Warrant Officer Dwayne Guy Lipsham was born in Thames, and raised in Hawke’s Bay and South Auckland. He enlisted with the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1986 and completed Aircraft Technician training in 1989.
Operational appointments have been to No. 40 Squadron and No.3 Squadron through all rank levels. Logistics posts include Maintenance Support Squadrons at Auckland and Ohakea, the latter as the Squadron Warrant Officer.
Staff appointments have included Directorate of Career Management – Operations and Exchanges, RNZAF Recruiting Officer – Auckland Regional Recruiting, and Technical Support SNCO – Medium Utility Helicopter, assisting with the successful introduction into service of the NH90 helicopter.
Instructional duties have included Aircraft Trade Training Instructor - Propulsion Systems at RNZAF Base Woodbourne and as a Helicopter instructor with No. 3 Squadron.
Warrant Officer Lipsham has seen operational service with No.3 Squadron in Antarctica, East Timor and Timor Leste. He has served as the RNZAF Queen’s Colour Warrant Officer, and as an RNZAF Aircraft Trade Validator which ensures training remained relevant to operations.
W/O Lipsham successfully completed the:
- Joint Advanced Leadership course at the Singapore Armed Forces Warrant Officer School in Paya Lebar
- Australian Defence Force Joint Warrant Officer Course in Canberra at the Royal Military College, Duntroon
- NZDF Joint Warrant Officer Advanced course in November 2019
- U.S Keystone Course for Command Senior Enlisted Leaders in 2022
- the Indo-Pacific Orientation Course at the Daniel K Inouye Asia Pacific Centre for Security Studies
In March 2014 he was appointed No.3 Squadron Warrant Officer where he oversaw the retirement of the UH-1H Iroquois before transferring to the A109 helicopter in 2015.
W/O Lipsham served as the Command Warrant Officer Ohakea from March 2018 to January 2021. He then served as the first Deputy Command Senior Enlisted Leader, US Indo-Pacific Command Headquarters Hawaii from August 2021 – July 2023. USINDOPACOM is the largest and oldest U.S Combatant Command (Joint). For his services W/O Lipsham was awarded the U.S Legion of Merit – Degree of Legionnaire.
W/O Lipsham was appointed as CWO Air Component Command at HQ Joint Forces NZ in August 2023.
W/O Lipsham is of Ngapuhi descent and holds a Master’s in Engineering Management and Diplomas in Business, Leadership and Management. He is passionate about sport and fitness. Although an average rugby player, he has represented New Zealand, NZ Combined Services, the Defence Force, the Air Force, Counties Manukau and Manawatu in Touch Rugby. He is also passionate about te ao Māori.
W/O Lipsham was appointed as the sixth Warrant Officer of the Air Force as of 9 December 2024.