-Sets to become Liberia’s first female Defense Minister
Liberia’s female military guru, Brigadier General (Retired) Geraldine Janet George, has defied the odds of the Armed Forces of Liberia as she’s expected to become Liberia’s first female Minister of National Defense if confirmed by the Liberian Senate.
Brigadier General (Retired) Geraldine Janet George, was nominated by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., late Sunday, April 28, 2024, months after her service as Acting Defense Minister.
George was nominated along with
Major General (Retired) Prince Charles Johnson, III, Director, National Security Agency (NSA), Major General (Retired) Daniel D. Ziankahn, Military Adviser and
Mr. J. Henric Pearson, II., Director General for Passports & Visas (with the rank of Ambassador), Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sunday evening.
Brigadier General (Retired) Geraldine Janet George last served as Brigadier General of the Armed Forces of Liberia. She is a female career soldier with extensive military leadership skills. She has served in the following posts in the Armed Forces of Liberia: Acting Commander, 23rd Infantry Brigade; Military Police Company Commander, 23rd Infantry Brigade; Brigade S-5, CIMIC Officer, 23rd Infantry Brigade; Provost Marshal, 23rd Infantry Brigade; Legal Officer, Armed Forces of Liberia Headquarters; Acting Deputy Chief of Staff (DCOS), Armed Forces of Liberia Headquarters; Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel (ACOS J1)(2x), Armed Forces of Liberia Headquarters and Assistant Chief of Staff for Operation (ACOS J3) (2x), Armed Forces of Liberia Headquarters.
George, a graduate of the College of West Africa (CWA), holds a Master of Arts Degree in International Relations, from Webster University, USA; and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice, from African Methodist Episcopal Zion University College, Monrovia. She also obtained several certificates: Intelligence, Fight against Terrorism, Rome, Italy; Administration of Justice, Liberia Institute of Public Administration, Monrovia; Public Sector Management, Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), University of Sierra Leone.
From the several military trainings attended, she attained the following certificates and diplomas: Initial Entry Training (IET), Barclay Training Center (BTC), Liberia; Advance Individual Training (AIT), Barclay Training Center (BTC), Liberia; Basic Non-Commissioned Officer Course (BNCOC), Barclay Training Center (BTC), Liberia; Officer Candidate School (OCS), Barclay Training Center (BTC), Liberia; Basic Officer Leader Course, Fort Benning, USA; Basic Officer Leader Course, Fort Benning, USA; Military Police Basic Officer Leadership Course, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, USA; Company Commander Course, Rwanda Military Academy, GAKO, Rwanda; Junior Staff Course (JSC), Horton Academy, Freetown, Sierra Leone; United States Army Command and General Staff College, USA; and United Nations Staff Officer and Military Component Planning Process (Western Accord 14), USA.
Furthermore, she holds lots of awards and authorizations including: Distinguished Graduate Advance Individual Training, 22 December 2006; Pistol Classification Sharp Shooter, January 2008; and the United Nations Medal (MINUSMA), 28 SEPT 2017. As it relates to authorization, she is authorized to wear the Fort Leavenworth School Badge from the Command and General Staff College, authorized to wear the International Students Military Badge, and authorized to wear the Basic Military Police School Badge. She was enlisted into the AFL on July 24, 2006, as part of the first batch of soldiers of the restructured Armed Forces of Liberia.
