Change of command for Navy frigate HMNZS Te Mana

A ceremony to mark the official change of Commanding Officer for the Navy frigate HMNZS TE MANA will be held at 1030 on Wednesday 19 September 2007, at the Devonport Naval Base.

The Change of Command Ceremony is traditionally formal and impressive – designed to strengthen that respect for authority, which is vital to any military organisation. Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral David Ledson, will review the ceremony.

During the ceremony, Commander Wilson Trumper (Temuka) will relinquish command of HMNZS TE MANA and Commander Blair Gerritsen (Nelson) will assume command.

Biography
Commander Blair Albert Gerritsen
Commander Blair Gerritsen was born in Nelson, and educated at Waimea College. He joined the Navy direct from High School in 1988 as a General List Executive Branch Midshipman. After initial and specialist training he was posted to HMNZS WELLINGTON. On promotion to Ensign he returned ashore for further specialist training after which he joined HMNZS CANTERBURY, receiving his full Bridge Watchkeeping qualification later in that year.

Following promotion to Sub Lieutenant in 1991, Commander Gerritsen completed the Navy Frigate Navigating Officer course and conducted Advanced Navigation training at the Australian Maritime College, Launceston, Tasmania. Further promotion to Lieutenant and postings to the Navy’s Replenishment Tanker HMNZS ENDEAVOUR and the Navy’s primary navigation ship HMNZS KAHU followed prior to posting to the staff of the Chief of Naval Staff as the Deputy Director Naval Operations. He returned as Officer in Charge of KAHU in early 1995, returning to CANTERBURY soon after.

Serving as Ships Navigator and gaining Operations Room experience, he then posted to HMAS WATSON in Sydney for Principal Warfare Officer (PWO) training – qualifying in May 1998. He was then selected as one of the commissioning Warfare Officers on the ANZAC Class Frigate HMNZS TE MANA, thence as Operations Officer.

Commander Gerritsen was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and posted to Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand in Wellington responsible for the day-to-day planning and execution of fleet activities.

In January 2004, Commander Gerritsen attended the Australian Command and Staff College in Canberra where he graduated in December from the Australian Defence Force and University of Canberra Master of Management (Defence Studies) programmes. On his return to New Zealand he was promoted to Commander and assumed the role of Commander Personnel and Training (Operations).