From Iraq to Freetown: UK’s First Female Defence Adviser Arrives

The British High Commission in Freetown has welcomed Lieutenant Colonel Elliott as the new Defence Adviser to Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea, making history as the first female Lieutenant Colonel to be posted to Sierra Leone in this role.

Lt Col Elliott is one of only seven female Defence Advisers in the British Armed Forces. Her distinguished career spans combat engineering in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as leading major infrastructure projects in Bahrain, Oman, the UAE, and RAF Lakenheath in the UK.

A Chartered Civil Engineer and Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), she is recognised for her commitment to defence cooperation and humanitarian planning across West Africa.

The British High Commission says her appointment signals a continued commitment to strengthening defence partnerships in the region, with Lt Col Elliott’s expertise set to play a key role in fostering regional stability and cooperation.