Tim Keating (soldier)

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}

{{short description|New Zealand Army officer}}

{{Infobox military person

| name = Tim Keating

| image = MAJGEN Tim Keating.png

| image_size = 200px

| alt =

| caption = Lieutenant General Keating in 2016

| nickname =

| birth_date =

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| placeofburial =

| allegiance = New Zealand

| branch = New Zealand Army

| serviceyears = 1982–2018

| rank = Lieutenant General

| unit =

| commands = Chief of the Defence Force (2014–18)
Vice Chief of Defence Force (2012–14)
Chief of Army (2011–12)
2nd Land Force Group (2007–09)
CRIB 6 (2005)
Officer Cadet School (2001–04)
1st New Zealand Special Air Services Group (1999–01)

| battles = Multinational Force and Observers
War in Afghanistan

| awards = Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States)

| relations =

| laterwork =

}}

Lieutenant General Timothy James Keating {{postnominals|size=100|country=NZL|CNZM}} is a former New Zealand Army officer and Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force. He was appointed Chief of Defence Force in 2014, immediately following his tenure as Vice Chief of Defence Force. He served as Chief of Army from 2011 to 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/about-us/key-personnel/cdf.htm |title=Chief of Defence Force: Lieutenant General Timothy (Tim) Keating, MNZM |work=NZDF |date=26 May 2015 |accessdate=22 May 2017}}

Keating served as Commander, Crib Rotation 6, the Provincial Reconstruction Team, in the early years of the deployment to Bamiyan, Afghanistan.

Keating was promoted to lieutenant general and took over as Chief of Defence Force (CDF) for a three-year term on 1 February 2014.{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11170073 |title=Major-General Keating named Chief of Defence |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |date=10 December 2013 |accessdate=30 January 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/new-chief-defence-force-announced-5769352 |title=New Chief of Defence Force announced |work=TVNZ |date=10 December 2013 |accessdate=30 January 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203165550/http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/new-chief-defence-force-announced-5769352 |archivedate=3 February 2014}} On 3 April 2018 Keating announced he would be stepping down as CDF on the completion of his term on 30 June. Keating did not give a reason for his resignation, but said he was not standing down due to the allegations about Operation Burnham in 2010 which was the subject of the book Hit & Run.{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/102798309/tim-keating-to-stand-down-as-head-of-the-new-zealand-defence-force|title=Tim Keating to stand down as head of the New Zealand Defence Force |work=Stuff.co.nz |date=3 April 2018|accessdate=3 April 2018}} Keating was succeeded as CDF by Air Marshal Kevin Short on 1 July 2018.{{cite news|title=Air Vice-Marshal Kevin Short is the new chief of the Defence Force|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/104147920/air-vicemarshal-kevin-short-is-the-new-chief-of-the-defence-force|newspaper=Stuff.co.nz|date=23 May 2018|accessdate=18 June 2018}}