Co-Director Maritime Fleet Renewal, Royal New Zealand Navy
Co-Director Maritime Fleet Renewal, Royal New Zealand Navy
Commodore Brendon Clark, DSD was born in Auckland and educated at Wellington College. He commissioned into the Royal New Zealand Navy in 1992. Commodore Clark served in Her Majesties New Zealand Ships (HMNZS) CANTERBURY, WAIKATO, MANAWANUI, CHARLES UPHAM, WELLINGTON and ENDEAVOUR as a Bridge Watch Keeping Officer and in later years as a Helicopter Approach Controller and Anti Submarine Aircraft Controller. Whilst serving in HMNZS ENDEAVOUR, Commodore Clark completed two operational deployments to East Timor in late 1999 and early 2000.
Commodore Clark then sub-specialised as an Observer, training in Winnipeg, Canada and Nowra, Australia. On completion of SH-2G(NZ) conversion training, Commodore Clark served in HMNZ Ships CANTERBURY and TE KAHA as the Flight Observer and later as the Ship’s Flight Commander, completing deployments to the South Pacific, Australia, North and South East Asia.
Commodore Clark completed the Royal Australian Navy Observer Instructor course at RAAF East Sale, remaining on exchange for the following two years before joining 485 Wing, RNZAF as a Staff Officer. Further instructional and sea postings were undertaken before promotion and appointment as Commanding Officer, No 6 Squadron, RNZAF. After three years in command and in conjunction with the retirement of the SH-2G(NZ), Commodore Clark completed his final flying tour in 2016.
Commodore Clark subsequently completed appointments as Chief of Staff to Captain Fleet Operational Readiness and Commander Maritime Operational Evaluation Team (MOET). Commodore Clark was promoted to the rank of Captain in 2019 and served as the Captain Fleet Operational Readiness (CFOR).
In Jul 2021 he deployed to Bahrain for six months as Commander Combined Task Force 150. On return to NZ, Commodore Clark returned to his previous role before his appointment as Assistant Chief of Navy Personnel and Training late 2022.
Commodore Clark was promoted and appointed as the Co-Director Maritime Fleet Renewal Apr 2025.
Commodore Clark was awarded the Distinguished Service Decoration in the New Year’s Honours List 2023. He is a graduate of the Royal College of Defence Studies and holds a Masters in Strategy and International Security from King’s College, London.
Commodore Clark is married to Sarah and together they have three children, Molly, Henry and Tom. His interests and hobbies include sailing, DIY and spending time with his family