Cheryl Pearce
Majors General Cheryl Pearce, AM, CSC, and Chris Smith, DSC, AM, CSC, sign a transfer of authority for the role of Deputy Chief of Army at Russell Offices in Canberra.
In May 2002, When Timor-Leste became internationally recognised as an independent state, the United Nations (UN) established UNMISET – the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor.
The mission provided assistance to the new government, including law enforcement, internal and external security, and helped to develop the new Timor-Leste police service.
The Australian operation was codenamed Operation Citadel under which Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel were tasked with functions including staffing headquarters, managing logistics, engineering, and military liaison.
In 2002, while a young major, Cheryl Pearce was appointed the Australian Army's Provost-Marshal and military observer with UNMISET.
As a young girl from Loxton, a small country town on the Murray River, with no family background in the military, Cheryl could not foresee the path her career would take. She graduated from Officer Cadet School Portsea in December 1985 as part of the first integrated class of male and female officers in the Australian Army.
‘When I was in East Timor, I was a military observer, and it was a monitor, observe and report role,’ Cheryl said. ‘It was hands-off, but I was engaging with the communities, looking at not only the physical security but the food and water security, health and education, and just getting a better understanding from the communities we were operating in.’
Cheryl Pearce was being modest. Being unarmed in conflict areas isn't without danger.
While in East Timor, Cheryl saved a civilian being attacked by a group of men with machetes. She was awarded the 2002 Chief of Defence Force Commendation for Bravery for this action.
Cheryl reflected on the other personal qualities that she found to be important, including communication, humility and respect.
‘We were unarmed, and therefore, an ability to understand the people who we're communicating with and come across as non-threatening was really important,’ she said. ‘Our impartiality, which is a key characteristic of peacekeeping, was essential to ensure success on the ground.’
Major General Cheryl Pearce went on to become the Force Commander of the UN peacekeeping operation in Cyprus from 2019 to 2021. She was the second woman ever to serve in such a role and part of the first all-women leadership team in UN peacekeeping history.