Chief of Defence Staff (Trinidad and Tobago)

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Chief of Defence Staff
Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force emblem.svg
Emblemm of the TTDF
Incumbent
Air commodore
since 25 March 2019
Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force
Member ofDefence Council
Reports to
AppointerPresident
on the advice of the Minister
Constituting instrumentDefence Act: Chapter 14:01
Formation1 June 1962
First holderPearce Gould
WebsiteOfficial 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 commodore who was appointed on 25 March 2019. 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. Portrait Name
(birth–death) 		Term of office Defence branch Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Lt. Col.
Pearce Gould 		1 June 1962 1964 1–2 years Army [2]
2 General Sir Richard Hull speaks to officers (Joffre Serrette).jpg Col.
Joffre Serrette 		1964 February 1968 3–4 years Army [3][4]
3 Stanley Johnson February 1968 1970 1–2 years
(2) General Sir Richard Hull speaks to officers (Joffre Serrette).jpg Brigadier
Joffre Serrette 		1970 1978 7–8 years Army [3]
4 Commodore
Mervyn O. Williams 		1976? 1979 2–3 years Navy [5]
Brigadier
Joseph Theodore 		1990 1991 0–1 years Army [6]
Brigadier
Ralph Brown 		1991 1994 2–3 years Army [5]
Brigadier
Carlton Alfred Alfonso 		1994 1999 4–5 years Army [7]
John CE Sandy 2000 2002 1–2 years
Brigadier
Ancil Antoine 		26 January 2002 2006 3–4 years Army [8]
Gen. Edmund Dillon, chief of defense staff for Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (T-AH 20) (cropped).jpg Major general
Edmund Ernest Dillon 		2006 6 November 2011 4–5 years Army [9]
Brigadier
Roland Maundy 		6 November 2011 2012 0–1 years Army [10][11]
Major general
Kenrick Maharaj 		2011 2011 0 years Army [12]
2011 2015 3–4 years
Rodney Smart 130820-Z-ZB970-065 (cropped).jpg Major general
Rodney Smart 		2015 9 August 2017 1–2 years Army [13]
Rear admiral
Hayden Pritchard 		9 August 2017 25 March 2019 1–2 years Navy [13]
Air Commodore
Darryl Daniel 		25 March 2019 Incumbent 2 years, 281 days Air force

References[]

  1. ^ Phillips 1997, p. 30.
  2. ^ "History". Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  3. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "New Chief of Defence Staff replaces Major General Rodney Smart". Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  • Phillips, Dion (September 1997). "The Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force: Origin, Structure, Training, Security and Other Roles". Caribbean Quarterly. Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 43 (3): 13–33. doi:10.1080/00086495.1997.11672099.
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