Board Announcement: Major General (Retired) Evan Williams ONZM
Taskforce Kiwi is excited to welcome Major General (Retired) Evan Williams ONZM to the Taskforce Kiwi Trust Board.
Major General Williams joined the New Zealand Army in 1985, retiring in July 2024 after serving for over 39 years.
Major General Williams served in a variety of Command and Staff appointments including two attachments to the British Army. He commanded an Infantry Company in East Timor in 2000, commanded the 2nd Health Support Battalion, which included a deployment to Banda Aceh, Indonesia as the Senior National Officer, in response to the Boxing Day Tsunami disaster. He served as the Chief of Staff, Headquarters 2nd Land Force Group, the Director Training and International Commitments, Army General Staff Wellington, and as the Military Secretary (Director of Officer Career Management).
Major General Williams served as the Commander, NZ Army Training and Doctrine Command in Waiouru before he attended The Royal College of Defence Studies in London. He then took up the role of Head, New Zealand Defence Staff, London. Upon returning to New Zealand, he was appointed Assistant Chief, Strategic Commitments and Engagements. He later assumed the appointment of Deputy Chief of the New Zealand Army. In November 2019, he was appointed as the Force Commander of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in Sinai, Egypt. He served two tours in this role totalling 4 years.
Major General Williams was awarded a Commendation for his role as Company Commander B Coy, 2nd Battalion Group, East Timor. He was also awarded the MFO’s Distinguished Service of Peace Award and the US Legion of Merit (Officer) for his service with the MFO. He was made of Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2024 New Year’s Honours List. His operational service includes tours of duty to Belize, Bosnia, The Sinai (three tours), East Timor, Banda Aceh and Afghanistan.
Major General Williams completed a Diploma in Joint and Multinational Operations and a Master’s Degree in Military Art and Science at the United States Army Command and Staff College Course at Leavenworth.
Major General Williams’ wife Kristin passed away in December 2021. He has a son and daughter of his own and two step daughters. He also has two grand-daughters.
Major General Williams is a Trust Board Member on the National Army Museum Trust Board, owns his own events venue business and is a Marriage Celebrant.
