Pieter van der Westhuizen
# Pieter van der Westhuizen

Pieter van der Westhuizen, SSA SM MMM (born (1937-12-24) December 24, 1937 (age 85)) was a South African Army officer who served as the Chief of Staff Intelligence from 1978–1985 and later Secretary of the State Security Council.

## Military career

He joined the South African Army as a Lieutenant in 1959. He joined the artillery, and would later serve as a Troop Commander at 11 Field Battery, 1 Special Service Battalion. He changed mustering to the infantry and served as Company Commander at 2 South African Infantry Battalion Group. In 1964, he was appointed to the Infantry School as an officer instructor. By 1968, he was appointed as a staff officer at the Directorate of Military Intelligence. He completed the French Command & Staff Course in the sixties and was appointed the Commandant Army College in 1974.

Commandant South African Army College in 1973 until 1975. He commanded Northern Transvaal Command from 1975–1976 before becoming a Director of Collection at Chief of Military Intelligence in 1976. He was appointed Chief of Staff Intelligence in June 1978. He held that position until 1985 before becoming the Secretary of the State Security Council until $1988.^{:Chp2}$ He was appointed as the Ambassador to Chile returned to South Africa in Dec 1991 and served on the staff of the Chief of the Defence Force until 31 March 1992 when he retired. He went back to Chile where he ventured on business and stayed there until 2021.

## Awards and decorations

* Star of South Africa (Gold) (SSAG)
* South African Police Star for Outstanding Service (SOE)
* Southern Cross Medal (1952) (SM)
* Military Merit Medal (MMM)
* Good Service Medal (Gold (30 Years))
* Good Service Medal (Silver (20 Years))
* Good Service Medal (Bronze (10 Years))
* Order of the Cloud and Banner (4th Grade - with Special Cravat) (ORB) (Taiwan)
* Order of the Cloud and Banner (3rd Grade - with Yellow Grand Cordon) (ORB) (Taiwan)
* Grand Cross of the Order of Bernardo O'Higgins (Chile)
* Paraguayan decoration
