Major General Maureen O'Brien

On Friday afternoon, Major General Maureen O'Brien was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, with Honour, in recognition of her 42-year service to Óglaigh na hÉireann. She was awarded this medal by the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Seán Clancy at her stand down parade in Mc Kee Barracks. This occasion marks the retirement of Major General Maureen O'Brien from the Defence Forces. She was the first female to be promoted the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel, Brigadier General and Major General. She was the first female Infantry Battalion Commander and also served as the Acting Force Commander of the UN Disengagement Observer Forces (UNDOF) Mission in the Golan, Syria. Major General O'Brien's most recent appointment was as Deputy Military Advisor to USG for Peace Operations in United Nations Headquarters, New York.
Major General Maureen O'Brien reflected on her service with Óglaigh na hÉireann during today ceremony.
“I believe that I have been extremely lucky in my 42-year career in the Defence Forces but then you make your own luck. I found the harder I worked the luckier I got. Little did I know that when I was asked to deploy to UNDOF as Deputy Force Commander that it would lead to me becoming Deputy Military Advisor to the Under Secretary General for Peace Operations at the United Nations. It goes to show that when an opportunity presents itself, take it. You won't regret it but you might regret NOT taking it!”
The Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Seán Clancy commended her service today and contribution to Óglaigh na hÉireann by saying:
“Within the Defence Forces it is essential that our young soldiers, sailors and aircrew have role models whom they can look up to and be inspired by. This is especially true for our female soldiers, serving in what was once traditionally considered to be a male career. Maureen has served as such a role model and demonstrated that members of Óglaigh na hÉireann should never limit their ambition in what they can achieve during their time in uniform.”
#leadership #service #WomenInLeadership #UnitedNations

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