Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces explained

The Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces ^[1] 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 Haji Muhammad Haszaimi bin Bol Hassan.

Early history

Lieutenant Colonel Tengku Ahmad bin Tengku Besar Barhanuddin, seconded from the Royal Malay Regiment, 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).

Appointees

	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Time in office
Brunei Malay Regiment
1		Lieutenant colonel Tunku Ahmad	June 1961	April 1964	2 years	[2] [3] [4]
2		Lieutenant colonel Donald Murray Fletcher	April 1964	31 May 1965	1 year	[5]
Royal Brunei Malay Regiment
1		Lieutenant colonel Donald Murray Fletcher	31 May 1965	25 July 1966
2		Lieutenant colonel Henry Fairbridge Burrows	25 July 1966	1 March 1969		[6] [7] [8]
3		Colonel John Simpson	1 March 1969	4 December 1971		[9] [10] [11]
4		Colonel Bertram Francis Louis Rooney	4 December 1971	18 July 1975		[12] [13]
5		Colonel Norman Roberts	18 July 1975	1982	6–7 years	[14]
6		Brigadier general John Friedberger	1982	1 January 1986	3–4 years	[15] [16]
Royal Brunei Armed Forces
1		Major general Mohammad Daud	1 January 1986	9 August 1990		[17] [18]
2		Major general Sulaiman Damit	10 August 1990	29 September 1994		[19]
3		Major general Husin Ahmad	30 September 1994	29 September 1997		[20] [21]
4		Major general Pengiran Abidin	30 September 1997	3 July 1999		[22]
5		Major general Shari Ahmad	31 August 1999	2 April 2001
6		Major general Jaafar Abdul Aziz	2 April 2001	27 March 2003
7		Major general Halbi Mohammad Yussof	28 March 2003	31 December 2009		[23] [24] [25]
8		Major general Aminuddin Ihsan	31 December 2009	29 January 2014		[26]
9		Major general Tawih Abdullah	30 January 2014	31 January 2018		[27] [28]
10		Major general Pengiran Aminan	31 January 2018	1 September 2020		[29] [30] [31]
11		Major general Hamzah Sahat	1 September 2020	1 March 2022		[32]
12		Major general Haszaimi Bol Hassan	1 March 2022	Incumbent		[33]

References

• Book: Hussainmiya, B. A. . RBAF 50th Golden Anniversary Commemorative Book . 2012 . Brunei Press Commercial Printing Services . Bandar Seri Begawan.

Notes and References

1. Web site: MINDEF – Addresses – Ministry of Defence Head Office. MinDef.gov.bn. Bolkiah Garrison, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam. n.d.. 16 May 2024.
2. Book: Morais, John Victor . John Victor Morais . The Who's who in Malaysia . 1967 . Solai Press . 20 . en.
3. Book: Muhammad bin Awang Abdul Latif (Haji.) . Brunei di tengah-tengah Nusantara: kumpulan kertas kerja Seminar Sejarah Brunei . Hashim bin Haji Mohd Noor (Haji.) . Rosli bin Haji Ampal (Awang Haji.) . 1994 . Jabatan Pusat Sejarah, Kementerian Kebudayaan Belia dan Sukan . 216 . ms.
4. Book: Horton, A.V.M. . Negara Brunei Darussalam: obituary 2010-2011 . Borneo Research Bulletin . 2011 . 42 . 54 . 4 October 2024.
5. Web site: 14 March 2010 . Brigadier Donald Fletcher . 2024-10-04 . . en.
6. Book: Horton, A.V.M. . Negara Brunei Darussalam: obituary 2015. . Borneo Research Bulletin . 2015 . 46 . 39 . 2024-10-04.
7. Book: [[Colonial Office|Great Britain Colonial Office]] . Brunei . 1969 . . 200 . en.
8. Web site: Interview with Henry Fairbridge Burrows . 2024-10-04 . . en.
9. News: 5 March 1969 . UPACHARA PERPISAHAN KA-ATAS DATO BURROWS . 2024-10-03 . Pelita Brunei . 8 . ms.
10. Web site: 2007-03-29 . Brigadier John Simpson . subscription . https://archive.today/20241004030322/https://www.thetimes.com/article/brigadier-john-simpson-3l6khld0w66 . 2024-10-04 . 2024-10-04 . . en.
11. Book: Great Britain Colonial Office . Brunei . 1971 . H.M. Stationery Office . 298 . en.
12. News: 2019-02-04 . Colonel 'Runce' Rooney, soldier who narrowly escaped death at the hands of the Japanese in a Burmese paddy field – obituary . 2024-10-04 . The Telegraph . en-GB . 0307-1235.
13. Book: Brunei . Brunei . 1975 . on behalf of the Information section, Department of State Secretariat, Brunei . 347 . en.
14. Book: [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|Great Britain Parliament House of Commons]] . Parliamentary Papers . 1983 . H.M. Stationery Office . 21 . en.
15. News: Han . Ling . 2 January 1986 . Brunei armed forces get first local commander . 2024-10-03 . The Straits Times . 6.
16. Who's Who 2010, A & C Black, 2010,
17. Book: Southeast Asian Affairs . 1986 . Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. . 50 . en.
18. Web site: Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Dewa Major General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Awang Haji Mohammad bin Haji Daud, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports. BruneiResources.com. BRUNEIresources.com. 2005. 3 February 2023.
19. Book: Hussainmiya, B.A. (Bachamiya Abdul). Waleed Mahdini. 2013. Sarimah Haji Umar. Pencapaian aan aspirasi : ABDB 1961–2011 dan seterusnya. Journey of accomplishments and aspirations : RBAF 1961-2011 and beyond. ms. Bandar Seri Begawan. Brunei Press / Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei. 20–21. 973874229.
20. Web site: Selamat Ulang Tahun ABDB. ms. Happy Birthday RBAF. MediaPermata.com.bn. Media Permata Online. 10 June 2017. 3 February 2023.
21. Web site: RBLF History. MinDef.gov.bn. Bolkiah Garrison, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam. 3 February 2023.
22. Web site: Dua juruterbang tempatan pertama lakar sejarah TUDB. ms. The first two local pilots sketch the history of RBAF. MediaPermata.com.bn. Media Permata Online. 7 August 2021. 2022-12-19.
23. News: RBAF senior officers promoted. MinDef.gov.bn/airforce. Bolkiah Garrison. Royal Brunei Air Force, Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam. 10 October 2008. 15 May 2024.
24. Web site: Outgoing RBAF Commander in audience. MinDef.gov.bn/airforce. Istana Nurul Iman, Brunei. Royal Brunei Air Force, Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam. 31 December 2009. 3 February 2023.
25. Web site: Crown Prince grants audience to outgoing, new RBAF Commanders. MinDef.gov.bn. Istana Nurul Iman, Brunei. Royal Brunei Air Force, Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam. 4 January 2010. 3 February 2023.
26. Web site: Commander Royal Brunei Armed Forces. MinDef.gov.bn. Bolkiah Garrison, Brunei. Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam. 3 February 2023.
27. Web site: Outgoing RBAF Commander in audience. MinDef.gov.bn. Istana Nurul Iman, Brunei. Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam. 30 January 2014. 3 February 2023.
28. Web site: Crown Prince grants audience to outgoing and new RBAF Commanders. MinDef.gov.bn. Qashr Al-Meezan, Brunei. Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam. 1 February 2018. 3 February 2023.
29. Web site: His Royal Highness the Crown Prince received in audience the outgoing and newly appointed RBAF Commander. MinDef.gov.bn. Qashr Al-Meezan, Brunei. Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam. 2 September 2020. 3 February 2023.
30. News: 3 RBAF senior officers promoted. MinDef.gov.bn/airforce. Bolkiah Garrison, Bandar Seri Begawan, BB3510, Brunei Darussalam. Royal Brunei Air Force, Ministry of Defence Brunei Darussalam. 2 January 2008. 15 May 2024.
31. News: Tran Tien Duan. 1 February 2018. Brunei: Sultan appoints new RBAF Commander. en.VietnamPlus.vn. VietnamPlus, Vietnam News Agency. 15 May 2024.
32. Web site: His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office receives in audience the outgoing and newly appointed Royal Brunei Armed Forces Commander. MinDef.gov.bn. Qashr Al-Meezan, Brunei. Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam. 2 March 2022. 3 February 2023.
33. News: Kon. James. 2 March 2022. His Majesty appoints new RBAF commander. BorneoBulletin.com.bn. Istana Nurul Iman, Brunei. Borneo Bulletin Online. 3 February 2023.