- Elizabeth Cosson
Infobox Military Person
name= Elizabeth Cosson
lived= 1958 -
placeofbirth=
placeofdeath=
caption=
nickname= Liz
allegiance= flagicon|AustraliaAustralia
serviceyears= 1979 -
rank= Major General
branch=Australian Army
commands= National Operations
unit=
battles=East Timor
awards= Conspicuous Service Cross
laterwork=Major General Elizabeth Cosson 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.ADF Service
Elizabeth (Liz) Cosson joined the Australian Army in 1979 as an
officer cadet and was commissioned in theRoyal Australian Army Ordnance Corps . During the early part of her career she held a number of appointments as a supply and administrative officer. [http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2006/Apr/20060427/Bio%20-%20Brigadier%20Cosson%202006.doc Elizabeth Cosson Biography on Department of Defence site] ]In 1991 she was appointed to a position at the
Royal Australian Air Force Logistics Command where she was responsible for thelogistics support to army aviation aircraft. For her work in improving the availability of theUH-60 Black Hawk helicopter fleet and supporting the fleet deployment toCambodia , 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". [ [http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=914415&search_type=quick&showInd=true Australian honours site] ]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 in December 2005 she became the first woman to be promoted to the rank of
Brigadier in the Australian Army.Major General Cosson is a graduate of the Australian Command and Staff College at Queenscliff (1994) and the Defence Strategic Studies Course (2005). She holds a Graduate Diploma in Management Studies, a Bachelor of Social Sciences and a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies.
She is married to Brigadier James Baker, who is also currently serving in the Australian Army as the Commander of Joint Task Force 631 in
Timor Leste . [ [http://www.defence.gov.au/opastute/bios/baker.htm Brigadier James Baker Biography on Department of Defence site] ]She served in the Corporate Services and Infrastructure Group of the Defence Department as the Director General Regions and Bases. [Brendan Nicholson and Misha Schubert [http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/handpicked-officer-devastated-by-bungle/2006/05/18/1147545456346.html "Hand-picked officer devastated by bungle"] , "
The Age ",19 May 2006 ] In this position she is responsible for the management of integrated service delivery to Defence bases across Australia.Kovco affair
Cosson was appointed in April 2006 to investigate the circumstances surrounding the repatriation of the body of
Jacob Kovco . On15 May 2006 , following a meeting with the Victorian Coroner, she left aCD ROM containing a draft copy of her confidential report in a public computer in theQantas Club lounge ofMelbourne Airport . [Patrick Walters, [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19185266-31477,00.html "Bungle brigadier taking it very hard"] , "The Australian ",19 May 2006 ] Parts of the report were subsequently broadcast. [Rachel Carbonell, [http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2006/s1641193.htm "Defence admits losing report"] , "Lateline ",17 May ,2006 ] This incident is now the subject of a Defence Department inquiry. [Patrick Walters, [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19185268-31477,00.html "Nelson sets limits for Kovco team"] , "The Australian ",19 May 2006 ]Promoted to Major General
In November 2007, she became the first woman to be promoted to the rank of major general in the Australian Army, and only the second female officer to be promoted to
two-star rank in theAustralian Defence Force , afterAir Vice Marshal Julie Hammer , who retired in 2005. Cosson as head of National Operations within the Defence Support Group has become responsible for the management of 80 ADF bases and garrisons across the country. [Mark Dodd, [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22744588-31477,00.html "First female two star general named"] , "The Australian ",12 November 2007 ] At this 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. [David McLennan, "Historic Promotion Despite Kovco Bungle", "The Canberra Times ",12 November 2007 ]References
External links
* [http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2007/Nov/20071112a/index.htm Promotion ceremony for Major General Liz Cosson]
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