-Sets to become Liberia’s first female Defense Minister
By Jerromie S. Walters
Women smile, the cumbersome (unpleasant) wolf in gender disparity at the Ministry of National Defense (MoD prostrates (bows) and history takes a deep breath, as it experiences an unexpected halt to jot down the ardent shift in the one-sided leadership style at the Ministry of National Defense, as Liberia’s female military guru breaks the glass ceiling by becoming the Country’s first female Defense Minister since the birth of the institution in 1972.
The Ministry of National Defense was created by an Act of the National Legislature on June 9, 1972. The Executive Law was approved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of Liberia on May 11, 1972, and published on June 9, 1972. The Ministry of National Defense was created with the mandate of the maintenance of national defense and the governance of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL).
The immediate control of the Ministry is vested in the Minister of National Defense subject to the authority and direction of the President as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Liberia.
From 1848-2023, the Secretaries/ Ministers of War/ Minister of Defense of Liberia were the following persons: Joseph Jenkins Roberts, Reginald A. Sherman, Anthony Williams, George B. Padmore, Robert T. Sherman, Wilmot H. Dennis, Columbus Harris, Isaac Moart, James F. Cooper, B.W. Payne, James W. Cooper, Momolu Massaquoi, Joseph Dennis, Henry Reed Cooper, J. Foulton Dunbar, Wilkins Tyler, Isaac Whisnant, Ernest C.B. Jones, Ernest J. Yancy, Harrison Grisby, Robert A. Brewer, Everett Jonathan Goodridge, Allen H. Williams, Harry A. Greaves, M. Burleigh Holder, James Y. Gbarbea, Major Samuel B. Pearson, M/ Gen. Albert B.S. Karpeh, M/ Gen. Gray D. Allison, B/ Gen. J. Boimah Barclay, Dr. Edward B. Kesselly, Gen. (Rtd.) Sandee S. Ware, Gen. (Rtd.) J Hezekiah Bowen, Daniel L. Chea, Sr., Brownie J. Samukai, Jr., and M/ Gen. Daniel Dee Ziankahn, Jr., (Rtd).
Unfortunately, all the above-listed individuals were males. This shows that the beauty of being in the immediate control of the Ministry has only been enjoyed by a single gender (Male). To erect a checkpoint to this gender disparity, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai nominated Brigadier General (Retired) Geraldine Janet George, on Sunday, April 28, 2024, months after her service as Acting Defense Minister.
Many have had reasons to celebrate Brigadier General (Retired) Geraldine Janet George’s nomination, as she has defied the odds of the Armed Forces of Liberia and is expected to become Liberia’s first female Minister of National Defense if confirmed by the Liberian Senate.
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.
Before 1972, what is today known as the Ministry of National Defense was called the Department of War. An amendment to the Liberian Constitution allowed the previously named War Department to be renamed the Department of National Defense on February 25, 1955. Then, during the early years of the Tolbert Administration, all departments were renamed Ministries and thus the organization became the Ministry of National Defense.
The Minister of National Defense is the principal administrator of the Ministry. The Minister is assisted by two deputy ministers, administration and operations, respectively. There are five assistant ministers within the Ministry of National Defense. They are Assistant Ministers for Administration, Public Affairs, Coast Guard Affairs, Civil Works and Plans, Policy and Operations.
The mission of the Ministry of Defense (MOD) is to provide the military forces needed to ensure the protection of Liberia’s national interest and territorial integrity, and to protect the citizens and residents within the borders of Liberia from internal and external aggression and in extremis, to respond to natural disaster. The Vision of the MOD is to ensure the preparedness of a viable and sustainable Armed Forces of Liberia that can address the threats posed to Liberia’s national security.
