LTCOL Steve Kearney

LTCOL Steve Kearney currently serves as NZDF Chief Mental Health Officer (CMHO)

LTCOL Kearney joined the NZDF in 2000, having completed an MSc in Psychology at Canterbury University. LTCOL Kearney has served in a diverse range of roles including direct support to units and service members, training, support to operations and command roles. He has deployed operationally throughout his career, including to Timor Leste, the Solomon Islands and Afghanistan. He has also participated in a number of international research working groups, including the Five Eyes Technical Co-Operation Programme, and was part of award winning projects on individual resilience and training for high risk occupations. LTCOL Kearney is a chartered Organisational Psychologist and a Registered Clinical Psychologist, and a graduate of the United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College. After leaving the regular force in 2015, he worked in both the public and private sector. During this time he continued to serve as a reservist, helping to develop mental health doctrine and training. In 2020 he re-enlisted into the regular force and was posted to the Chief Mental Health Officer role. LTCOL Kearney is eager to make a contribution to the Mental Health of kiwi service members, and is particularly passionate about;

• Early identification and support for mental health
• The relationship between work and mental health
• How mental health might be different in a military context
• How peers, whānau and mates might be better equipped to support one another’s mental health

Key projects he’s been working on include improving NZDF’s mental health systems and processes, developing the primary care mental health skills of our health workforce, and promoting a mental health system that is flexible to the needs of our Defence community and it’s diverse members.