Chief of the Defence Staff (Tonga)

Last updated

Chief of the Defence Staff
Flag of the Tonga Defence Services.svg
Tupou Tongapo`uli Aleamotu`a.jpg
Incumbent
Brigadier general Tupou Tongapoʻuli Aleamotuʻa
since 21 December 2014
His Majesty's Armed Forces
Reports toMinister for HMAF
Formation1977
First holder Fetuʻutolu Tupou

The Chief of the Defence Staff is the professional head of the Tongan military. They are responsible for the administration and the operational control of the military.

Until 2013, commanders were called Commander of the Tongan Defence Services. In 2013, the title was changed to Chief of the Defence Staff of the HMAF. [1]

List of officeholders

No.PortraitName
(birth–death)
Term of officeRef.
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
Commander of the Tongan Defence Services
1 Ambassador Fetu'utolu Tupou in Brussels (cropped).jpg Colonel
Fetuʻutolu Tupou
(?–2005)
197731 March 200022–23 years [2]
2 Brig. General Tau'aika 'Uta'atu face detail, from- Adm. Walsh with Brig. General Tau'aika 'Uta'au at a reception hosted by Tonga's Prime Minister, Lord Tu'ivakano. (5886410814) (cropped).jpg Brigadier general
Tauʻaika ʻUtaʻatu
(born 1956)
31 March 20005 November 201313 years, 219 days [3]
Chief of the Defence Staff of the HMAF [1]
2 Brig. General Tau'aika 'Uta'atu face detail, from- Adm. Walsh with Brig. General Tau'aika 'Uta'au at a reception hosted by Tonga's Prime Minister, Lord Tu'ivakano. (5886410814) (cropped).jpg Brigadier general
Tauʻaika ʻUtaʻatu
(born 1956)
5 November 201321 December 20141 year, 46 days [3]
3 Tupou Tongapo`uli Aleamotu`a.jpg Brigadier general
Tupou Tongapoʻuli Aleamotuʻa
(born 1966)
21 December 2014Incumbent10 years, 127 days [4]

References

  1. 1 2 "Tonga Defence Services (Amendment) Act 2013" (PDF). paclii.org. p. 6. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  2. "TDS Commander, Col. Fetu'utolu Tupou retires". Matangi Tonga Online. 20 March 2000. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Brigadier General 'Uta'atu retires from HMAF". Matangi Tonga Online. Vava'u Press. 21 December 2014. Archived from the original on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  4. "Fielakepa title goes to HMAF Commander". Matangi Tonga Online. 10 April 2015. Archived from the original on 14 September 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2018.