COX, Mary Elizabeth

Group Captain, Royal New Zealand Air Force (Retired)

CITATION

New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration

Queen's Birthday Honours List 2010

Group Captain COX represented New Zealand as Defence Advisor in Malaysia and subsequently as Defence Attaché to the Philippines December

2001 – July 2009.  In both appointments, Group Captain COX established the trust and respect of senior Defence officials in those countries; this was

an achievement in cultures where the military establishments are male-dominated. During her posting to Manila, she was also the first female officer to

serve as Dean of the Foreign Armed Forces Attaché Corps in the Philippines.  Group Captain COX developed and maintained positive working

relationships with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and associated inter-governmental agencies and was able to provide assessments and

insights to the Ambassadors that assisted them in progressing engagements and strengthening relationships between New Zealand and the countries

to which they were accredited.  Group Captain COX holds the highest rank ever attained by a female officer in the Royal New Zealand Air Force and

has always projected herself as a positive role model. She is also at the forefront of women’s leadership in the wider New Zealand Defence Force.

KNOWN AWARDS

New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration

New Zealand Armed Forces Award

NOTES

Born

Died

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