Cheryl Pearce

Cheryl Pearce
BornLoxton, South Australia
AllegianceAustralia
Service/branchAustralian Army
Years of service1984–2021
2023–present
RankMajor General
Commands heldDeputy Chief of Army (2023–24)
United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (2019–21)
Australian Defence Force Academy (2017–18)
Task Group Afghanistan (2016)
1st Military Police Battalion (2006–08)
Defence Police Training Centre (2003)
Battles/warsUnited Nations Mission of Support to East Timor
War in Afghanistan
United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus
AwardsMember of the Order of Australia
Conspicuous Service Cross
Commendation for Distinguished Service
Other workDeputy Commissioner, Australian Border Force (2021–23)

Major General Cheryl Ann Pearce, AM, CSC is a senior officer in the Australian Army and a former deputy commissioner in the Australian Border Force. She graduated from the Officer Cadet School, Portsea and was commissioned into the Royal Australian Corps of Military Police in 1985. She has commanded the Defence Police Training Centre (2003), 1st Military Police Battalion (2006–08), Task Group Afghanistan (2016) and Australian Defence Force Academy (2017–18). Pearce has served on operations in East Timor and Afghanistan, and was Force Commander, United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus from January 2019 to January 2021. Pearce retired from full-time service in the army following her return from Cyprus and was appointed Deputy Commissioner Ports and Enforcement in the Australian Border Force in August 2021. She returned to the army in June 2023, on being appointed Deputy Chief of Army. She has been seconded to the United Nations since January 2024, serving as Deputy Military Adviser for Peacekeeping Operations.

Military career

Pearce graduated from the Officer Cadet School, Portsea and was commissioned into the Royal Australian Corps of Military Police in December 1985. Her early career featured a range of regimental and staff appointments, including postings to Headquarters 1st Brigade, to the G3 (operations) branch at Land Headquarters, and as staff officer to the commandant of the Australian Defence Force Academy. She graduated from the Australian Command and Staff College in 2001 and, in 2002, deployed as a military observer with the United Nations Mission of Support to East Timor, for which she was awarded a Chief of the Defence Force Commendation.[1][2][3]

Following her return to Australia, Pearce was appointed to command the Defence Police Training Centre in 2003. She was next posted as Provost Marshal – Army, prior to assuming command of the 1st Military Police Battalion from 2004 to 2006.[1][2][3] In recognition of her "exceptional service" in these three positions, Pearce was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2007 Australia Day Honours.[4] Pearce was subsequently posted to the directing staff of the Australian Command and Staff College, served as Director Network Centric Warfare in the Capability Development Group, and served as Director Special Operations Support from 2010 to 2012. She attended the Higher Command and Staff Course in the United Kingdom in 2013 and, on her return to Australia, was appointed chief of staff at Headquarters Australian Army from 2013 to 2016.[1][2][3]

In 2016, Pearce deployed to the Middle East as commander of Task Group Afghanistan. The task group, as part of Australia's contribution to NATO's Resolute Support Mission, provided training and advice to the Afghan National Security Forces.[3] Pearce's "distinguished performance" during the nine-month deployment was recognised with the award of the Commendation for Distinguished Service in the 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours.[5] Pearce was subsequently appointed commandant of the Australian Defence Force Academy from 2017 to 2018. In November 2018, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, announced that Pearce had been selected to succeed Major General Mohammad Humayun Kabir as Force Commander of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).[3][6][7] Pearce, who assumed command of UNFICYP in January 2019,[2] is the second woman to be appointed force commander of a United Nations mission.[8] As force commander, she was responsible for more than 800 personnel from 15 nations working to maintain peace and stability in Cyprus, in spite of the additional challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Pearce relinquished command of UNFICYP on 4 January 2021 and,[9][10][11] for her "outstanding achievement" in the role, she was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in the 2022 Australia Day Honours.[12]

Pearce retired from full-time service in the army shortly following her return from Cyprus and, on 30 August 2021, she was appointed Deputy Commissioner Ports and Enforcement in the Australian Border Force.[13] Pearce's role was later changed to Deputy Commissioner South, East and Workforce, in which she oversaw Border Force operations in south eastern Australia and was responsible for the organisation's workforce capability and sustainment.[14] She left Border Force and returned to full-time service in the army in June 2023, on being appointed Deputy Chief of Army.[15] In January 2024, Pearce was again seconded to the United Nations, being appointed Deputy Military Adviser for Peacekeeping Operations.[16]

Personal life and education

Pearce was born in Loxton, South Australia.[1] She has a partner, Paul, and two daughters.[1][2][3]

Pearce holds a Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies from the University of New England, a Graduate Diploma of Management in Defence Studies from the University of Canberra, a Master of Intelligence, Policing and Counter Terrorism from Macquarie University, and a Master of Arts in Defence Studies from Deakin University.[1][2][3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Commandant ADFA". Australian Defence Force Academy. Department of Defence. Archived from the original on 2 December 2017. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Major General Cheryl Pearce, AM". Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Major General Cheryl Pearce of Australia – Force Commander of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP)". United Nations Secretary-General Media Statements. United Nations. 8 November 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  4. ^ "Australia Day 2007 Honours" (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 26 January 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Queen's Birthday Honours List". Office of the Governor-General. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  6. ^ Nicolaides, Andreas (9 November 2018). "Australian Major General Cheryl Pearce New Force Commander of UNFICYP". in-cyprus. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  7. ^ "Australian Defence Force Officer Appointed to Command UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus". Media Release. Department of Defence Ministers. 9 November 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  8. ^ Sharland, Lisa (9 November 2018). "At Last, Another Female UN Force Commander". The Strategist. Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  9. ^ "UNFICYP Bids Farewell to Force Commander Major General Cheryl Peace". United Nations. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  10. ^ Donnelly, Shaun (6 January 2021). "A Milestone Deployment Complete". Defence News. Department of Defence. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  11. ^ "Minister for Defence – Major General Pearce Completes Tenure as Force Commander United Nations Force in Cyprus". Defence Media Release. Office of the Minister for Defence. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  12. ^ "Australia Day 2022 Honours List" (PDF). Office of the Governor-General of Australia. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  13. ^ "Cheryl Pearce AM". Department of Home Affairs. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Cheryl Pearce AM, CSC". Our Senior Staff. Department of Home Affairs. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  15. ^ Pearce, Cheryl [@DepChiefAusArmy] (9 June 2023). "On 5 June I assumed the role of Deputy Chief of the Australian Army" (Tweet). Retrieved 10 June 2023 – via Twitter.
  16. ^ "Major General Cheryl Pearce of Australia – Deputy Military Adviser, Office of Military Affairs, Department of Peace Operations". United Nations Secretary-General Media Statements. United Nations. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
Military offices
Preceded by
Major General Natasha Fox
Deputy Chief of Army
2023–2024
Succeeded by
Major General Chris Smith
Preceded by Force Commander, United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus
2019–2021
Succeeded by
Major General Ingrid Gjerde