Secretary of Defence
John McKinnon
John McKinnon, a career public servant, has been Secretary and Chief Executive of the Ministry of Defence since December 2006.
Mr McKinnon joined the then Ministry of Foreign Affairs in May 1974 and was posted to China as a second secretary in 1978, following two years Chinese language training in Hong Kong. Following his return to New Zealand from China in 1980 Mr McKinnon was assigned to the Asian Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He later worked on secondment with Fletcher Challenge for a year. John McKinnon's subsequent postings in the diplomatic service were to Washington (1985-1986), Canberra (1986-1990) and New York (1992-1995), the last as Deputy Permanent Representative during New Zealand's term on the United Nations Security Council. From 1995 to 1999 John McKinnon was Director of the External Assessments Bureau in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Mr McKinnon was New Zealand’s Ambassador to China, stationed in Beijing, from February 2001 to November 2004. Immediately prior to his appointment as Secretary of Defence he was a Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
