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New Zealand's Ministry of Defence has set up a special team to oversee about 11 billion NZ dollars (7.13 billion U.S. dollars) in defense spending over the coming decade.
The ministry said Wednesday that Chief of Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Mike Yardley had been appointed deputy secretary acquisition, heading a new five-strong acquisition leadership team to convene in March.
Secretary of Defence Helene Quilter said Yardley and the new team would provide the ministry with a strong combination of professional and technical expertise.
The team would drive a change program to build capacity to deliver an acquisition program, including replacements for the New Zealand Defence Force's air transport and air surveillance fleets and its two frigates, Quilter said in a statement.
"Each member of the team is a highly experienced senior professional. Their collective backgrounds include significant defence and military experience as well as expertise in program and project management, systems engineering and change management, " Quilter said.
The Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Tim Keating said in the statement that a process to appoint a new Chief of Air Force would begin shortly.
