Elizabeth Cosson
Encyclopedia
Major General
Elizabeth Cosson AM
, CSC
(born 1958) is Australia's most senior female army officer, and the first woman to reach the rank of Major General in the Australian Army
. In December 2010, she took the position of General Manager of the Executive Division of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
and was commissioned in the Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps
. During the early part of her career she held a number of appointments as a supply and administrative officer.Major General Elizabeth Cosson, CSC, Biography, Defence Leaders, Media Release on Australian Department of Defence website. Both accessed 28 August 2009.
In 1991 she was appointed to a position at the Royal Australian Air Force
Logistics Command where she was responsible for the logistics
support to army aviation aircraft. For her work in improving the availability of the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter fleet and supporting the fleet deployment to Cambodia
, she received a commendation from the Air Officer Commanding Logistics.
In 1995 Cosson served in a number of appointments within Land Command, including a regimental appointment with the 11th Brigade and a logistics staff officer appointment at Headquarters Land Command. During this appointment her responsibilities included logistics planning in support of the 1999 operations in East Timor. In November 1999 she deployed as the Chief of Staff of the Peace Monitoring Group, Bougainville
.
She was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross
in the 2001 Australia Day
Honours List "for outstanding achievement as the Chief of Staff, Peace Monitoring Group, Bougainville, and in logistic planning and management of the Combat Force as the Staff Officer Grade One Logistics, Land Headquarters".
On her return from Bougainville she served with Defence Corporate Services before being seconded to the Joint Standing Committee for Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade in the House of Representatives
. In 2002, Cosson commenced a three year appointment in strategic logistics planning and was responsible for logistics policy and for developing concepts to improve logistics information systems.
In December 2005 she became the first woman to be promoted to the rank of Brigadier
in the Australian Army.
She served in the Corporate Services and Infrastructure Group of the Defence Department as the Director General Regions and Bases. In this position she was responsible for the management of integrated service delivery to Defence bases across Australia.
In March 2007 she assumed the role of Head Defence Support Operations in an acting capacity. In November 2007, the role was confirmed and she became the first woman to be promoted to the rank of major general in the Australian Army. She is the second female to be promoted to two-star rank in the Australian Defence Force
, the first being Air Vice Marshal Julie Hammer
, who retired in 2005. Cosson, as head of National Operations within the Defence Support Group, became responsible for the management of 80 ADF bases and garrisons across the country. At that time, although about 13% of the ADF were women, there were only four at the one-star level: Commodore Robyn Walker, Commodore Vicki McConachie, Brigadier Lyn McDade
and Air Commodore Margaret Staib.
Cosson was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2011 Australia Day
Honours List as a result of her "exceptional service" in the positions of Director General Regions and Bases, and as Head Defence Support Operations. In December 2010 it was announced that she had been appointed General Manager of the Executive Division of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
. On 15 May 2006, following a meeting with the Victorian Coroner, she left a CD ROM containing a draft copy of her confidential report in a public computer in the Qantas Club lounge of Melbourne Airport
. Parts of the report were subsequently broadcast by Derryn Hinch
. This incident was the subject of a Defence Department inquiry.
(1994) and the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies (2005). She holds a Graduate Diploma in Management Studies, a Bachelor of Social Sciences and a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies.
Major General (Australia)
Major General is a senior rank of the Australian Army, and was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of Major General. It is the third-highest active rank of the Australian Army, and is considered to be equivalent to a two-star rank...
Elizabeth Cosson AM
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, CSC
Conspicuous Service Cross (Australia)
The Conspicuous Service Cross is a decoration of the Australian Honours System. The CSC is awarded only for outstanding devotion to duty, or outstanding achievement in the application of exceptional skills, judgment or dedication, in non-warlike situations...
(born 1958) is Australia's most senior female army officer, and the first woman to reach the rank of Major General in the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
. In December 2010, she took the position of General Manager of the Executive Division of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
ADF Service
Elizabeth (Liz) Cosson joined the Australian Army in 1979 as an officer cadetOfficer Cadet
Officer cadet is a rank held by military and merchant navy cadets during their training to become commissioned officers and merchant navy officers, respectively. The term officer trainee is used interchangeably in some countries...
and was commissioned in the Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps
Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps
The Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps is the Corps within the Australian Army concerned with supply and administration, as well as the demolition and disposal of explosives and salvage of battle-damaged equipment...
. During the early part of her career she held a number of appointments as a supply and administrative officer.Major General Elizabeth Cosson, CSC, Biography, Defence Leaders, Media Release on Australian Department of Defence website. Both accessed 28 August 2009.
In 1991 she was appointed to a position at the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
Logistics Command where she was responsible for the logistics
Logistics
Logistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
support to army aviation aircraft. For her work in improving the availability of the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter fleet and supporting the fleet deployment to Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, she received a commendation from the Air Officer Commanding Logistics.
In 1995 Cosson served in a number of appointments within Land Command, including a regimental appointment with the 11th Brigade and a logistics staff officer appointment at Headquarters Land Command. During this appointment her responsibilities included logistics planning in support of the 1999 operations in East Timor. In November 1999 she deployed as the Chief of Staff of the Peace Monitoring Group, Bougainville
History of Bougainville
Bougainville is a province of Papua New Guinea. It was named after the French navigator Louis Antoine de Bougainville.-Prehistory:Bougainville has been inhabited for at least 33,000 years...
.
She was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross
Conspicuous Service Cross (Australia)
The Conspicuous Service Cross is a decoration of the Australian Honours System. The CSC is awarded only for outstanding devotion to duty, or outstanding achievement in the application of exceptional skills, judgment or dedication, in non-warlike situations...
in the 2001 Australia Day
Australia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia...
Honours List "for outstanding achievement as the Chief of Staff, Peace Monitoring Group, Bougainville, and in logistic planning and management of the Combat Force as the Staff Officer Grade One Logistics, Land Headquarters".
On her return from Bougainville she served with Defence Corporate Services before being seconded to the Joint Standing Committee for Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade in the House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
. In 2002, Cosson commenced a three year appointment in strategic logistics planning and was responsible for logistics policy and for developing concepts to improve logistics information systems.
In December 2005 she became the first woman to be promoted to the rank of Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
in the Australian Army.
She served in the Corporate Services and Infrastructure Group of the Defence Department as the Director General Regions and Bases. In this position she was responsible for the management of integrated service delivery to Defence bases across Australia.
In March 2007 she assumed the role of Head Defence Support Operations in an acting capacity. In November 2007, the role was confirmed and she became the first woman to be promoted to the rank of major general in the Australian Army. She is the second female to be promoted to two-star rank in the Australian Defence Force
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
, the first being Air Vice Marshal Julie Hammer
Julie Hammer
Air Vice Marshal Julie Hammer AM, CSC was the first woman to be promoted to one-star rank and later two-star rank in the Australian Defence Force, and the first woman to command an operational unit in the Royal Australian Air Force .-Early life:Julie Margaret Hammer was born in Brisbane on 17...
, who retired in 2005. Cosson, as head of National Operations within the Defence Support Group, became responsible for the management of 80 ADF bases and garrisons across the country. At that time, although about 13% of the ADF were women, there were only four at the one-star level: Commodore Robyn Walker, Commodore Vicki McConachie, Brigadier Lyn McDade
Lyn McDade
Brigadier Lyn McDade is a senior officer in the Australian Army, currently holding the position of Director of Military Prosecutions. She has recently been the centre of widespread media attention within Australia due to charges against three former members of the Special Operations Task Group...
and Air Commodore Margaret Staib.
Cosson was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2011 Australia Day
Australia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia...
Honours List as a result of her "exceptional service" in the positions of Director General Regions and Bases, and as Head Defence Support Operations. In December 2010 it was announced that she had been appointed General Manager of the Executive Division of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Kovco affair
Cosson was appointed in April 2006 to investigate the circumstances surrounding the repatriation of the body of Jacob KovcoJacob Kovco
Jacob Bruce Kovco was a Private in the Australian Army who died while deployed in Iraq, fatally wounded by a single shot to the head from his own Browning 9mm sidearm. PTE Kovco was the first Australian soldier to die while deployed to the Middle Eastern Area of Operations...
. On 15 May 2006, following a meeting with the Victorian Coroner, she left a CD ROM containing a draft copy of her confidential report in a public computer in the Qantas Club lounge of Melbourne Airport
Melbourne Airport
Melbourne Airport , also known as Tullamarine Airport, is the primary airport serving the city of Melbourne and the second busiest in Australia. It was opened in 1970 to replace the nearby Essendon Airport. Melbourne Airport is the sole international airport of the four airports serving the...
. Parts of the report were subsequently broadcast by Derryn Hinch
Derryn Hinch
Derryn Nigel Hinch is an Australian media personality best known for his work on Melbourne radio. He is currently the host of 3AW's drive time radio show...
. This incident was the subject of a Defence Department inquiry.
Education
Major General Cosson is a graduate of the Army Command and Staff College at Fort QueenscliffFort Queenscliff
Fort Queenscliff, in Victoria, Australia, dates from 1860 when an open battery was constructed on Shortland's Bluff to defend the entrance to Port Phillip. The Fort, which underwent major redevelopment in the late 1870s and 1880s, became the headquarters for an extensive chain of forts around Port...
(1994) and the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies (2005). She holds a Graduate Diploma in Management Studies, a Bachelor of Social Sciences and a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies.
Personal life
She is married to Brigadier James Baker, who is also currently serving in the Australian Army.External links
- Photographs of the Promotion ceremony for Major General Liz Cosson, 12 November 2007. Includes this photo with then Chief of Army Lt Gen Peter LeahyPeter LeahyLieutenant General Peter Francis Leahy AC is a retired senior officer of the Australian Army, whose military career culminated with his appointment as Chief of the Army from 2002 until 2008.-Military career:...
, and her husband, then Colonel James Baker.
