| Chief of Defence Staff | |
|---|---|
| Type | Highest-ranking military officer |
| Member of | Defence Board National Security Council |
| Reports to | Governor-General |
The Chief of Defence Staff is the professional head of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force. The Chief of Defence Staff is responsible for the operational use of the force subject to the governor-general, the representative of the commander-in-chief.
| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) | Term of office | Ref. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||
| 1 | Captain Leo Gore | 1958 | 1964 | 5–6 years | [1] | |
| 2 | Lieutenant colonel Dennis Gardiner | 1964 | 1971 | 6–7 years | [1] | |
| 3 | Major Herman Blackman | 1971 | 1979 | 7–8 years | [1] | |
| 4 | Major Llewellyn Haywood | 1979 | 1982 | 2–3 years | [1] | |
| 5 | Lieutenant colonel Clyde Walker | 1982 | 1990 | 7–8 years | [1] | |
| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) | Term of office | Ref. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||
| 5 | Colonel Trevor Thomas | 1990 | 2020 | 29–30 years | [1] | |
| 6 | Brigadier general Telbert Benjamin | 21 March 2020 | Incumbent | 4 years, 277 days | [1] | |
Antigua and Barbuda is a sovereign archipelagic country in the Caribbean. It lies at the conjuncture of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean in the Leeward Islands part of the Lesser Antilles.
The Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF) is the armed forces of Antigua and Barbuda. The ABDF has responsibility for several different roles: internal security, prevention of drug smuggling, the protection and support of fishing rights, prevention of marine pollution, search and rescue, ceremonial duties, assistance to government programs, provision of relief during natural disasters, assistance in the maintenance of essential services, and support of the police in maintaining law and order.
Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services.
Sir James Beethoven Carlisle, GCMG is a dentist and the former Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda. Selected by Vere Cornwall Bird, his term ended in June 2007, after 16 years in office.
Lieutenant junior grade is a junior commissioned officer rank used in a number of navies.
A chief petty officer (CPO) is a senior non-commissioned officer in many navies and coast guards, usually above petty officer.
A master chief petty officer is a senior non-commissioned officer in many navies and coast guards, usually above some grade of petty officer.
A petty officer (PO) is a non-commissioned officer in many navies. Often they may be superior to a seaman, and subordinate to more senior non-commissioned officers, such as chief petty officers.
The Antigua and Barbuda Regiment is the infantry unit and main fighting arm of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force. Previously known as the Rifle Company, it was formed in 1995 and consists of a single light infantry battalion, commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel and made up of four companies:
The monarchy of Antigua and Barbuda is a system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign and head of state of Antigua and Barbuda. The current Antiguan and Barbudan monarch and head of state, since 8 September 2022, is King Charles III. As sovereign, he is the personal embodiment of the Crown of Antigua and Barbuda. Although the person of the sovereign is equally shared with 14 other independent countries within the Commonwealth of Nations, each country's monarchy is separate and legally distinct. As a result, the current monarch is officially titled King of Antigua and Barbuda and, in this capacity, he and other members of the Royal Family undertake public and private functions domestically and abroad as representatives of Antigua and Barbuda. However, the King is the only member of the Royal Family with any constitutional role.
The British Leeward Islands was a British colony from 1671 to 1958, consisting of the English overseas possessions in the Leeward Islands. It ceased to exist from 1816 to 1833, during which time it was split into two separate colonies. It was dissolved in 1958 after the separation of the British Virgin Islands, and the remaining islands became parts of the West Indies Federation.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and introduction to Antigua and Barbuda:
The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda is the law enforcement agency for Antigua and Barbuda. The Commissioner in 2017 was Atlee Rodney. The force has 350 officers.
The Antigua and Barbuda National Cadet Corps (ABNCC) is a voluntary youth organization open to students between the ages of 12 and 19 in Antigua and Barbuda. It is part of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force. It is sponsored by the government of Antigua and Barbuda. Its main objective is to provide training and personal development to youth through both military and community activities. The training is geared to inspire young men and women to become model citizens. Emphasis during training is based on discipline, loyalty, leadership and good citizenry. This is often acquired though a completed training course of being an active member in the Corps.
The Military ranks of Antigua and Barbuda are the military insignia used by the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force. Being a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, Antigua and Barbuda shares a rank structure similar to that of the United Kingdom.
The Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force Coast Guard is the maritime branch of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force. The purpose of the coast guard is to maintain the country's interests, and along with the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force Air Wing, patrol the waters of the country.
The National Security Council of Antigua and Barbuda was established in 2006 by The National Security Council Act of 2006. The council serves as the government's main forum for debating issues pertaining to national security, coordinating the policies and actions of the government's departments and agencies in this area, and carrying out any duties assigned to it by legislation. Establishing priorities among activities that address national security interests and requirements, ensuring the collection and collation of information and intelligence relating to Antigua and Barbuda's national security and the integration of that information and intelligence into the government's domestic, foreign, and security policies, and approving policies for departments and agencies of government to follow in relation to national security are all part of the Council's duties. The Council may also recommend to the Minister related to these policies.
The Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force Air Wing is an aerial component of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force. The Air Wing's mission includes troop transport, medical evacuation, disaster response and search and rescue. The unit was commissioned on 12 April 2022 and started operations with one aircraft, a second airframe entered service in September 2023. Since then, it has expressed interest in acquiring a helicopter, and additional aircraft. Currently they are based in the Calvin Air hangar at V.C. Bird International Airport, but are scheduled relocate to a more suitable hangar.
Royal tours of Antigua and Barbuda by its royal family have been taking place since the 20th century. Elizabeth II, Queen of Antigua and Barbuda, visited the country thrice: in 1966, 1977, and 1985.
The national security of Antigua and Barbuda is the collaboration of numerous institutions, including law enforcement, military, paramilitary, governmental, and intelligence agencies that seek to ensure Antigua and Barbuda's national security.
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