Peter Jacobs
Major Peter Jacobs, of Lower Hutt, received the Distinguished Service Decoration for services to the New Zealand Defence Force. Major Jacobs originally enlisted in the New Zealand Army in 1966 as a rifleman and saw active service in Vietnam before transferring to the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps. Following a career as a health administrator and service in the Territorial Force, he was commissioned to the Regular Force in 1987 and promoted to his present rank in 1999. He has ensured that the Medical Corps meets its mission and goals. He worked towards the development of a medical specialist base in Timor Leste with a focus on sustainable operational outputs. Major Jacobs’ efforts ensured there was a continued supply of health specialist personnel who were critical to maintaining a credible surgical capability in the remote Suai region of Timor Leste.