Lt Col Christopher Parsons DSD
Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Parsons, of Auckland, received the Distinguished Service Decoration for services to the New Zealand Defence Force. Colonel Parsons served in Afghanistan from August 2010 to January 2011 as the Senior National Officer for Operation Watea. This Special Operations Task Force was tasked with protecting Kabul from insurgent attacks, and helping to develop a robust and ethical Afghan Counter Terrorist Police Force. He was the third commander to lead the mission, which incorporates highly complex support systems. He expanded the relationship between the senior leadership of the Afghan Crisis Response Unit, the Ministry of the Interior and other Afghan government agencies. Through his efforts, the New Zealand Special Air Service is now a recognised leader in the partnering and mentoring of indigenous forces in a counter-terrorist and counter-insurgency framework.