| Post: | Chief |
| Body: | the Defence Staff |
| Flag: | Flag of the Tonga Defence Services.svg |
| Flagborder: | yes |
| Incumbent: | Brigadier general Tupou Tongapoʻuli Aleamotuʻa |
| Incumbentsince: | 21 December 2014 |
| Department: | His Majesty's Armed Forces |
| Reports To: | Minister for HMAF |
| Formation: | 1977 |
| First: | 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]
| Portrait | Name | Term of office | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||||
| Commander of the Tongan Defence Services | |||||||
| 1 | Colonel Fetuʻutolu Tupou | 1977 | 31 March 2000 | years | [2] | ||
| 2 | Brigadier general Tauʻaika ʻUtaʻatu | 31 March 2000 | 5 November 2013 | [3] | |||
| Chief of the Defence Staff of the HMAF | |||||||
| 2 | Brigadier general Tauʻaika ʻUtaʻatu | 5 November 2013 | 21 December 2014 | ||||
| 3 | Brigadier general Tupou Tongapoʻuli Aleamotuʻa | 21 December 2014 | Incumbent | [4] | |||