Fluent and qualified in several languages, Dr. Hayward holds M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in military history from the University of Canterbury. He has had fellowships from the German government and is a Research Associate of the United States Air Force.

In November 1998 the Mayor of his city, Palmerston North, presented Dr Hayward's book on Stalingrad as the city’s official gift to His Royal Highness Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, during the latter’s royal tour.

Until June 2002 Dr Hayward was a Senior Lecturer in Defence and Strategic Studies at Massey University. From 1997 to 2004 he lectured at the New Zealand Army’s Officer Cadet School and the Air Force’s Command and Staff College and also taught strategic thought for several years at the Royal New Zealand Naval College.

Dr. Hayward’s books include a widely praised and much quoted account of the Stalingrad airlift [click red link for details],  a volume on jointness and the New Zealand Defence Force, and a co-authored book on New Zealand officers and their experiences of command [click red link for details].

Another recent book, published by the United States Navy in May 2003, is his thematic analysis of Lord Nelson's war-fighting style [click red link for details]. It has gained what can only be described as stunning reviews around the world and has already been picked up as a set text by the US Naval War College, as was his airpower book by the US Air Command and Staff College.

Dr Hayward's work-in-progress, A “Bomb and Pray” War: Explaining Yugoslavia’s Stubborn Resistance to NATO Coercion, 1999, should appear in bookstores during February 2006.

His articles have appeared in many of the world's leading international defence journals and magazines. He has also contributed to specialist military encyclopaedias, and has even had much poetry and fiction published, including a book of short stories and a book of poetry.

Dr. Hayward's works have been translated into German, Russian, Portuguese, Spanish and Serbian.