The NZ Distinguished Service Decoration
Squadron Leader Timothy Hopkins, was awarded the New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration, at Government House, Auckland, on Thursday, 25 September 2008.
CAF with SQNLDR Hopkins
Since 1995, SQNLDR Hopkins has deployed to Kosovo, Bougainville, the Solomon Islands, and Timor Leste. During this time, he developed considerable understanding of the environmental health issues that affect defence personnel operating in these difficult and sometimes hostile environments. He has used this knowledge and practical experience to improve the policy and procedures under which subsequent Air Force deployments have been undertaken, as well as developing new equipment and training regimes. SQNLDR Hopkins’s efforts have helped to ensure that New Zealand defence personnel, being deployed overseas, are best prepared for the conditions they will face. His efforts have greatly contributed to the success of these respective missions.