Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces
{{Short description|Professional head of the military of Brunei Darussalam}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Commander
| body = the Royal Brunei Armed Forces
| native_name = {{Lang|ms|Pemerintah Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei}}
| flag = War Flag of Brunei.svg
| flagborder = y
| flagcaption = Flag of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces
| image = Wedding Procession of Abdul Mateen and Anisha Rosnah 148.jpg
| incumbent = Major General
Dato Paduka Seri Haszaimi Bol Hassan
| incumbentsince = {{Start date and age|2022|03|01|df=y}}
| department = Royal Brunei Armed Forces
| type = Armed forces commander
| status = Major general
| reports_to = Minister of Defence
| seat = Bolkiah Garrison, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei BB3510{{Cite web|url=https://mindef.gov.bn/SitePages/Addresses.aspx|title=MINDEF – Addresses – Ministry of Defence Head Office|website=MinDef.gov.bn|location=Bolkiah Garrison, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei|publisher=Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam|date=n.d.|access-date=16 May 2024}}
| nominator =
| appointer = Sultan of Brunei
| formation = {{Start date and age|1985|12|30|df=y}}
| first = Mohammad Daud
| website = {{url|https://mindef.gov.bn/SitePages/Commander%20RBAF.aspx|Official website}}
| termlength = No fixed length
}}
The Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces ({{Langx|ms|Pemerintah Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei}}) is the professional head of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF). He is responsible for the overall management, administration, and the operational control of the entire military of Brunei. The current commander is Major general {{Lang|ms|Dato Paduka Seri}} Haji Muhammad Haszaimi bin Bol Hassan.
Early history
Lieutenant Colonel Tengku Ahmad bin Tengku Besar Barhanuddin, seconded from the Royal Malay Regiment,{{Sfn|Hussainmiya|2012|p=10}} served as the first commanding officer of the Brunei Malay Regiment (BMR) from June 1961 to April 1964. He was followed by Lieutenant Colonel Donald Murray Fletcher, who became the first and last British officer commanding the regiment from April 1964 to May 1965 and later the first officer commanding the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment (RBMR) until 25 July 1966. From 25 July 1966 until 1 March 1969, Major Henry Fairbridge Burrows (later Lieutenant Colonel) replaced him as Commander. On 1 March 1969, John Simpson was appointed to lead the RBMR, quickly promoted to Colonel and assumed control of the air and naval wings.
Colonel Bertram Francis Louis Rooney served as commander of the RBMR from 4 December 1971 to 18 July 1975, followed by Colonel Norman Roberts, who held the position from 18 July 1975 until 1982. Brigadier General John Friedberger succeeded Roberts, serving as the last British military commander of Brunei from 1982 until 1 January 1986. As the first local commander, 42-year-old Brigadier General Mohammad Daud ushered in a new era for the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF).{{Sfn|Hussainmiya|2012|p=23}}
Appointees
References
{{Reflist}}
- {{Cite book |last=Hussainmiya |first=B. A. |title=RBAF 50th Golden Anniversary Commemorative Book |date=2012 |publisher=Brunei Press Commercial Printing Services |location=Bandar Seri Begawan}}
{{Military of Brunei}}
{{Chiefs of Brunei military}}
{{Chief of military by country}}
{{Portal bar|Asia|History}}
{{Authority control}}