Chief of Defence Staff (Trinidad and Tobago)

Last updated
Chief of Defence Staff
Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force emblem.svg
Emblem of the TTDF
Incumbent
Air Vice Marshall Darryl Daniel
since 25 March 2019
Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Flag.svg Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force
Member ofDefence Council
Reports to Minister of National Security
Appointer President
on the advice of the Minister
Constituting instrumentDefence Act: Chapter 14:01
Formation1 June 1962
First holderPearce Gould
Website Official website

The Chief of Defence Staff is the professional head of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. He is responsible for the administration and the operational control of the military. The current chief is Air Vice Marshall Darryl Daniel who was appointed on 25 March 2019, Air Commodore and promoted to Air Vice Marshall effective November 01,2020 . Unlike other Caribbean nations, the chief is not called the more common "Chief of Staff". This is due to the strong ties Trinidad and Tobago had to the British equivalent during the establishment of the TTDF. [1]

List of officeholders

No.PortraitName
(birth–death)
Term of officeDefence branchRef.
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1Lt. Col.
Pearce Gould
1 June 196219641–2 yearsArmy [2]
2 General Sir Richard Hull speaks to officers (Joffre Serrette).jpg Col.
Joffre Serrette
1964February 19683–4 yearsArmy [3] [4]
3Stanley JohnsonFebruary 196819701–2 years
(2) General Sir Richard Hull speaks to officers (Joffre Serrette).jpg Brigadier
Joffre Serrette
197019787–8 yearsArmy [3]
4 Commodore Mervyn Williams TTDF.jpg Commodore
Mervyn O. Williams
1976?19792–3 yearsNavy [5]
Brigiadier Joseph Theodore TTDF Chief.jpg Brigadier
Joseph Theodore
199019910–1 yearsArmy [6]
Ralph Brown TTDF Chief.jpg Brigadier
Ralph Brown
199119942–3 yearsArmy [5]
Carlton Alfonso, TTDF Chief (Cropped).jpg Brigadier
Carlton Alfred Alfonso
199419994–5 yearsArmy [7]
Commodore
Anthony S Franklin
199920000–1 yearsNavy
John Sandy TTDF Chief.jpg John CE Sandy200020021–2 years
Former TTDF Chief of Defence Staff Ancil Antoine.jpg Brigadier
Ancil Antoine
26 January 200220063–4 yearsArmy [8]
Edmund Dillon TTDF Chief.jpg Major general
Edmund Dillon
20066 November 20114–5 yearsArmy [9]
Roland Maundy.jpg Brigadier
Roland Maundy
6 November 201120120–1 yearsArmy [10] [11]
Kenrick Maharaj, former TTDF Chief of Staff.jpg Major general
Kenrick Maharaj
201120110 yearsArmy [12]
201120153–4 years
Rodney Smart. Former TTDF Chief.jpg Major general
Rodney Smart
20159 August 20171–2 yearsArmy [13]
TTDF Chief of Defence Staff Rear Admiral Hayden Pritchard.jpg Rear admiral
Hayden Pritchard
9 August 201725 March 20191–2 yearsNavy [13]
Darryl Daniel. TTDF Chief.png Air Commodore
Darryl Daniel
25 March 2019Incumbent5 years, 15 daysAir force

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References

  1. Phillips 1997, p. 30.
  2. "History" . Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  3. 1 2 Figueira, Daurius (July 2009). The East Indian Problem in Trinidad and Tobago 1953-1962 Terror and Race War. ISBN   9781440159961.
  4. Griffith, Ivelaw L. (11 June 2015). The Quest for Security in the Caribbean: Problems and Promises in. p. 107. ISBN   9781317454977.
  5. 1 2 Phillips 1997, p. 31.
  6. "Passing of Brigadier General ( Ret'd) Joseph Theodore" . Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  7. "Senator the Honourable Brig. Gen. Carlton Alfonso" . Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  8. "Brigadier Ancil Antoine" . Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  9. Kowlessar, Geisha. "Dillon says farewell to the Force". guardian.co.tt. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  10. "Minister Griffith Issues Condolences on the Death of Brigadier General Roland Garth Maunday" . Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  11. "Maundy passes the baton" . Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  12. "Maharaj now Brigadier General" . Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  13. 1 2 "New Chief of Defence Staff replaces Major General Rodney Smart" . Retrieved 13 January 2021.