Colonel Rose King – Royal New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers – has become the first General List female officer to be promoted to the rank of Brigadier.

Previously, two female specialist officers have reached the rank of Brigadier, a doctor and a lawyer by trade. Brigadier King is the first General List officer, meaning she is a career soldier who has risen from Officer Cadet training to her current role.

During her promotion ceremony at Defence House Brigadier King said she was proud to have reached this milestone in her career.

“Others have told me ‘If you can see it, you can be it’ and I hope that this achievement inspires other women to continue to strive in all aspects of their lives,” the mother-of-two said.

Chief of the Defence Force Air Marshal Kevin Short personally requested to be involved in the promotion ceremony of Brigadier King, and said her achievement was well-deserved and a signal of change.

“Rose is a highly competent leader and role model for those around her and we, as a Defence Force, need more leaders like her to highlight the diversity of thought that women bring to our organisation.”

King enlisted into the New Zealand Army in July 1991, attended the Officer Cadet School in Waiouru and graduated into the Corps of Royal New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

In addition to her New Zealand awards, Brigadier King has also been awarded the NATO Meritorious Service Medal, the United States Meritorious Service Medal and the United States Army Commendation for her services in Afghanistan. She also deployed to Croatia.