Bernadette really is the BOSS!

Bernadette Boss (left), whose parents live in Ringles Cross, has quite a few credentials to her name.

Educated at St Phillip's Primary School, Uckfield, and Lewes Priory School, she trained as a nurse in London and has a diploma in ophthalmic nursing.

Following that, at University College London she achieved a 2.1 BSc in anthropology and then went on to qualify as a barrister of the Middle Temple.

In 1987, Bernadette, 42, joined the Territorial Army and by the time she went to Australia in 1993 she was a TA captain.

She then joined the Australian army and was part of the advance force in East Timor which then became the blue beret force of the United Nations.

After the Timor troubles, she was made a major and then, on becoming a reservist, a lieutenant colonel and first woman commander of the University of Sydney Regiment.

Her PhD was in international peacemaking.

In the Australia Day honours list Bernadette was awarded the CSC for re-organising her regiment over the past three years.

On March 1 she will be posted to the Directorate of Officer Career Management with the chance of visiting Iraq and Afghanistan to advise officers.

Her mother Maureen said: 'We are, of course, very proud of her.

'She is very much an independent and talented spirit - and very fond of organising.'