Group Captain John McWilliam, AFC, AE, of Hamilton, MNZM for services to the New Zealand Defence Force
Group Captain John McWilliam is a pilot, flying instructor and airworthiness expert who has contributed significantly to military and civil aviation safety. He developed the Military Airworthiness Recognition Question Set 1.5, and has been a longstanding member of the multinational Air Force Interoperability Council. He was the inaugural Director of the New Zealand Defence Aviation Authority, and has led the safe introduction of new aircraft fleets to the RNZAF. He played a key role in the development and certification of the civil aviation plane, the PAC P-750. He helped identify the root cause of the sinking of HMNZS Manawanui, and helped develop the NZDF seaworthiness framework. His expertise is sought for complex operational assessments and international aviation standards.