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General Peter Cosgrove

General Peter Cosgrove is instantly recognised as the face of the Australian Armed Forces. His personal characteristics of strength, courage and commitment to duty are displayed in his professional life as a career army officer.

In 1999, as Commander of the Deployable Joint Force Headquarters, General Cosgrove assumed command of the International Forces in East Timor (INTERFET) and led his troops until the force was withdrawn in February 2000. On his return to Australia, he was appointed Chief of Army.

In July 2002, General Cosgrove assumed the profile position of Chief of the Defence Force, a position he held until July 2005.

Numerous awards and honours attest to the standing of General Peter Cosgrove in the military establishment and across the wider community. For his service with INTERFET, he was advanced to Companion of Military Division the Order of Australia (AC), having previously been a Member of the Order for his service as Commanding Officer, 1RAR.

He was awarded the Military Cross for his service with 9RAR in South Vietnam, and has received several foreign awards including the Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, a Commander of the United States Legion of Merit, the Tong Il medal the Republic of Korea, and the Grand Chain of Infante Dom Henrique Portugal.

These decorations all bear witness to the level of respect and esteem in which General Peter Cosgrove is held nationally and internationally. He is a role model of excellence.