The Lake Hawea man is the performance manager for the New Zealand Academy of Sport's Wanaka-based winter performance programme.
Turnbull will travel to Vancouver as an official with the New Zealand Winter Olympics team, before assuming the head role for the 2010 Paralympics team.
He said he had experienced a range of emotions since being confirmed as the chef de mission of New Zealand's Paralympic team.
"I feel privileged, excited, and also very nervous about the role," he told the Otago Daily Times yesterday.
His main role for the "small and very focused" paralympic team will revolve around a performance-orientated outcome for the athletes, and includes organisational management, logistics and media responsibilities for the team.
Wanaka adaptive alpine ski racer Adam Hall is the sole New Zealand paralympian to have qualified for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. It will be the second Winter Paralympic games at which Hall has represented New Zealand.
Turnbull has recently returned from a test event at the Vancouver games site, where Hall won a silver medal in the slalom and bronze in the Super Combined at the IPC (International Paralympic Committee) Alpine Skiing World Cup finals.
"Adam's a fantastic guy to work with. He is a very passionate and mature athlete with plenty of guts and determination," Turnbull said.
Auckland-based alpine ski racer Peter Williams is also a chance to qualify for the Winter Paralympics and boost New Zealand's representation, he said.
Turnbull's winter performance programme manager role has a focus on the strength and conditioning of New Zealand athletes involved in skeleton racing, speed skating and ski racing.
• The Turnbull file
Jon Turnbull
Age: 30.
Role: Newly appointed chef de mission for the New Zealand team at the 2010 Paralympics in Vancouver.
Job: New Zealand Academy of Sport's winter snow and ice-sports performance programme manager, based in Wanaka.
Education: Degrees in physical education and science, majoring in geography (University of Otago). Studying for a Masters in Sport Science (Auckland).
Background: Lives in Lake Hawea with wife Kristie, a physiotherapist who runs a Wanaka practice.
