Commander of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force

Last updated
Commander of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force
Emblem of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force.svg
Emblem of the Defence Force
Gilbert Toropo (44555067992) (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Major General Gilbert Toropo
since 31 January 2014
Ministry of Defence
StatusActive
Member ofPapua New Guinea Defence Force
Reports toThe Honourable Fabian Pok, Minister of Defence
Appointer Governor-General of Papua New Guinea
Formation1975
First holder Ted Diro

The Commander of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force is the highest-ranking military officer of in the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, who is responsible for maintaining the operational command of the military. [1] The current commander is Brigadier general Gilbert Toropo. [2]

Contents

List of Commanders

No.PortraitCommanderTook officeLeft officeTime in officeRef.
1
Blank.png
Diro, Ted Brigadier general
Ted Diro
(born 1943)
197519815–6 years [3] [4] [5]
2
Blank.png
Mamae, GagoBrigadier general
Gago Mamae
198119831–2 years [6]
3
Blank.png
Noga, KenBrigadier general
Ken Noga
(?–2014)
198319851–2 years [6]
4
Blank.png
Huai, TonyBrigadier general
Tony Huai
198519871–2 years [7]
5
Blank.png
Lokinap, RochusBrigadier general
Rochus Lokinap
1987November 19924–5 years [8]
6
Blank.png
Dademo, RobertBrigadier general
Robert Dademo
November 1992?? [8]
(4)
Blank.png
Huai, TonyBrigadier general
Tony Huai
?1995? [7]
7
Blank.png
Singirok, JerryBrigadier general
Jerry Singirok
(born 1956)
199517 March 19971–2 years [9]
-
Blank.png
Aikung, Alfred Colonel
Alfred Aikung
Acting
17 March 199719970 years [9]
8
Blank.png
Nuia, LeoBrigadier general
Leo Nuia
199719980–1 years [10]
(7)
Blank.png
Singirok, JerryBrigadier general
Jerry Singirok
(born 1956)
199819990–1 years [11]
9
Blank.png
Malpo, CarlBrigadier general
Carl Malpo
(?–2009)
1999?? [12]
10
Blank.png
Ilau, Peter Commodore
Peter Ilau
(born 1959)
200120098 [11]
-
Francis Agwi in 2011.jpg
Agwi, FrancisBrigadier general
Francis Agwi
(born 1963)
Acting
201020100 years [11]
11
Francis Agwi in 2011.jpg
Agwi, FrancisBrigadier general
Francis Agwi
(born 1963)
2010December 20132–3 years [13] [14]
12
Gilbert Toropo (44555067992) (cropped).jpg
Toropo, Gilbert Major General
Gilbert Toropo
31 January 2014Incumbent10 years December 2021 [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Papua New Guinea Defence Force</span> Military of Papua New Guinea

The Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Papua New Guinea. It originated from the Australian Army land forces of the territory of Papua New Guinea before independence, coming into being in January 1973 and having its antecedents in the Pacific Islands Regiment. The PNGDF is a small force, numbering around 3,600 personnel, and consists of a Land Element, an Air Element and a Maritime Element. It is a joint force tasked with defending Papua New Guinea and its territories against external attack, as well as having secondary functions including national-building and internal security tasks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manus Island</span> Island within Manus Province, Papua New Guinea

Manus Island is part of Manus Province in northern Papua New Guinea and is the largest of the Admiralty Islands. It is the fifth-largest island in Papua New Guinea, with an area of 2,100 km2 (810 sq mi), measuring around 100 km × 30 km. Manus Island is covered in rugged jungles which can be broadly described as lowland tropical rain forest. The highest point on Manus Island is Mt. Dremsel, 718 metres (2,356 ft) above sea level at the centre of the south coast. Manus Island is volcanic in origin and probably broke through the ocean's surface in the late Miocene, 8 to 10 million years ago. The substrate of the island is either directly volcanic or from uplifted coral limestone.

HMAS <i>Lae</i> (P 93) Australian, then PNG, naval vessel

HMAS Lae was an Attack-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). It was named for the city of Lae, capital of Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. Completed in 1968, the vessel was one of five assigned to the RAN's Papua New Guinea (PNG) Division. The patrol boat was transferred to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force in 1974 as HMPNGS Lae. She remained in service until 1988.

The Sandline affair was a political scandal that became one of the defining moments in the history of Papua New Guinea, and particularly the conflict in Bougainville. It brought down the government of Sir Julius Chan, and brought Papua New Guinea to the verge of a military revolt. The event was named after Sandline International, a United Kingdom-based private military company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Singirok</span>

Jerry Singirok was the commander of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force throughout the Sandline affair of 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands</span> Response to request for help from Solomon Islands

The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI), also known as Operation Helpem Fren, Operation Anode and Operation Rata, began in 2003 in response to a request for international aid by the Governor-General of Solomon Islands. Helpem Fren means "help a friend" in Solomon Islands Pidgin. The mission officially ended on 30 June 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Pacific Islands Regiment</span> Infantry regiment of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force

The Royal Pacific Islands Regiment (RPIR) is an infantry regiment of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF). The regiment is descended from the Australian Army infantry battalions formed from native soldiers and Australian officers and non-commissioned officers in the territories of Papua and New Guinea during World War II to help fight against the Japanese. Disbanded after the war, the regiment was re-raised in 1951 as part of the Australian Army and continued to serve until Papua New Guinea gained its independence in 1975, when it became part of the PNGDF. Today, the RPIR consists of two battalions and has seen active service in Vanuatu, Bougainville and the Solomon Islands.

Julian Ronald Moti QC CSI was the Attorney General of the Solomon Islands. He was born in Fiji and educated in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Somare</span> Papua New Guinean politician (1936–2021)

Sir Michael Thomas Somare was a Papua New Guinean politician. Widely called the "father of the nation", he was the first Prime Minister after independence. At the time of his death, Somare was also the longest-serving prime minister, having been in office for 17 years over three separate terms: from 1975 to 1980; from 1982 to 1985; and from 2002 to 2011. His political career spanned from 1968 until his retirement in 2017. Besides serving as PM, he was minister of foreign affairs, leader of the opposition and governor of East Sepik Province.

Belden Namah is a Papua New Guinean politician. Namah is a member of the National Parliament for the Papua New Guinea Party, and has represented Vanimo-Green River District since 2007. He served in the Cabinet from 2007 to 2010, and as Deputy Prime Minister from 2011 to 2012. In 2012, Namah became a member of the opposition. After retaining his seat in the 2022 election, he said that he would not rejoin the opposition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Papua New Guinea Defence Force mutiny</span>

The 2012 Papua New Guinea Defence Force mutiny took place on 26 January 2012 when a group of military personnel headed by retired Colonel Yaura Sasa took the commander of the defence force, Brigadier General Francis Agwi, prisoner. The mutiny was related to a dispute over the prime ministership between Sir Michael Somare and Peter O'Neill which had begun in December 2011 when the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea ordered that Somare be reinstated as the prime minister while the country's parliament supported O'Neill.

Yaura Sasa is a Papua New Guinean retired army colonel who led the failed 2012 Defence Force mutiny on 26 January 2012. Sasa and approximately 20 PNG soldiers seized control of the main administrative compound in the Defence Force Headquarters, Murray Barracks located within the capital Port Moresby. The group, led by Sasa, also briefly captured the commander of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, Brigadier General Francis Agwi and placed him under house arrest along with other higher-ranking officers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francis Agwi</span> Papua New Guinean Army officer

Brigadier General Francis Wanji Agwi, CSM, CBE, DSM (born ?) is a Papua New Guinean Army officer who served as the 9th Commander of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force.

Lombrum Naval Base, also known as HMPNGS Tarangau and formerly PNG Defence Force Base Lombrum, is a naval military base operated by the Maritime Operations Element of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF). It is located on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea. Lombrum is the home port of the PNGDF's Pacific-class patrol boat force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bougainville conflict</span> 1988–1998 armed conflict in Papua New Guinea

The Bougainville conflict, also known as the Bougainville Civil War, was a multi-layered armed conflict fought from 1988 to 1998 in the North Solomons Province of Papua New Guinea (PNG) between PNG and the secessionist forces of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA), and between the BRA and other armed groups on Bougainville. The conflict was described by Bougainvillean President John Momis as the largest conflict in Oceania since the end of World War II in 1945, with an estimated 15,000–20,000 Bougainvilleans dead, although lower estimates place the toll at around 1,000–2,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gilbert Toropo</span>

Major General Gilbert Toropo CBE is a Papua New Guinean Army officer who is the current Commander of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF).

Grand Chief Brigadier Edward Ramu (Ted) Diro, GCL, CBE is a Papua New Guinean politician and soldier.

HMPNGS <i>Seeadler</i> Papua New Guinea Defence Force vessel

HMPNGS Seeadler (P03) is one of four Pacific Forum patrol vessels operated by the Papua New-Guinea Defence Force.

Rochus Lokinap, CBE was a military officer in Papua New Guinea. He held the rank of brigadier general in the Papua New Guinea Defence Forces (PNGDF) and was the PNG Defence Commander, in March 1990 when Police Commissioner Paul Tobian tried to execute a coup against government of Sir Rabbie Namaliu. According to the Canberra Times Lokinap and Ted Diro, then Minister of State Security, rallied forces to thwart the coup.

Leo Nuia was an officer in the Papua New Guinea Defence Force.

References

  1. "Office of The Commander PNGDF". PNG Defence. Papua New Guinea Defence Force. 2016. Archived from the original on 25 November 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Australian Chief of Army visits Papua New Guinea". Media release. Australian High Commission Papua New Guinea. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  3. Ryan, Peter, ed. (1972). Encyclopedia of Papua and New Guinea. Melbourne University Press. p. 246.
  4. Dorney, Sean (2000). Papua New Guinea: people, politics and history since 1975 . ABC Books. pp.  166, 169. ISBN   0733309453.
  5. "Military-Civil Relations in the Independent State". Government and the Military in Papua New Guinea. Australian National University. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  6. 1 2 Admin (8 January 2014). "FORMER PNG DEFENCE FORCE COMMANDER NOGA PASSES ON". OnePNG. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  7. 1 2 Marshall, Steve (27 January 2007). "Inquiry unveils corruption in PNG Defence Department". abc.net.au. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  8. 1 2 May, R.J.; Selochan, Viberto (2004). "The Military and Democracy in Asia and the Pacific" . Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  9. 1 2 "Papuan general leads mutiny". The Irish Times. 18 March 1997. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  10. Admin (31 July 1997). "PNG DEFENSE FORCE COMMANDER NUIA CRITICAL OF ARREST". Pacific Island Report. Pacific Islands Development Program. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  11. 1 2 3 "Ilau must be held accountable over Moti affair, says former PNGDF head". Radio New Zealand. Radio New Zealand. 21 November 2006. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  12. Dinnen, Richard (25 September 2000). "Investigations continue into Port Moresby siege". abc.net.au. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  13. "Papua New Guinea mutiny leader Yaura Sasa arrested". BBC News . 2012-01-29. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
  14. "AGWI, the commander of men". Sunday Chronicle (Papua New Guinea). 2010-01-15. Retrieved 2012-01-29.