Commander of the Defence Force (The Bahamas) explained

Post:Commander Defence Force
Body:Bahamas
Insignia:Bahamas Defence Force emblem.svg
Insigniacaption:Emblem of the Bahamas Defence Force
Incumbent:Raymond King
Incumbentsince:21 May 2020
Department:Royal Bahamas Defence Force
First:William Swinley
Deputy:Deputy Commander Defence Force

The Commander of the Defence Force is the professional head of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. He is responsible for the administration and the operational control of the Defence Force. The current commander is Raymond King, who was appointed on 21 May 2020, after serving as acting commander since 16 October 2019.

List of commanders

PortraitName
Term of office
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1Commodore
William Swinley
October 19761981 years[1] [2]
2Commodore
Christopher Belton
19811983 years
3Commodore
Leon L. Smith
19831997 years[3]
4Commodore
Davy Rolle
19972006 years
5Commodore
Clifford Scavella
1 November 200621 January 2010
6Commodore
Roderick Bowe
21 January 201015 March 2015[4]
Commodore
Tellis Bethel
15 March 20151 May 2017[5] [6]
[7]
71 May 201716 October 2019
Commodore
Raymond King
16 October 201921 May 2020[8]
821 May 2020Incumbent

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Former Commodores . rbdf.gov.bs . Royal Bahamas Defence Force . 10 May 2021.
  2. News: The Bahamas’ First Commodore William Swinley Passes . 10 May 2021 . Bahamas Press . 1 July 2014.
  3. News: PM lauds Commodore Leon Smith for 'positive leadership' of RBDF . 10 May 2021 . Bahamas Local . 23 September 2014.
  4. Web site: Commodore Roderick Bowe BSc. CMELI (Retired) . rbdf.gov.bs . Royal Bahamas Defence Force . 10 May 2021.
  5. News: Bahamas . Jones . Commodore Bethel Heads Largest RBDF Promotion Exercise . 10 May 2021 . jonesbahamas.com . The Bahama Journal . 3 May 2017.
  6. Web site: Commodore Tellis A. Bethel, MALIC, . rbdf.gov.bs . Royal Bahamas Defence Force . 10 May 2021.
  7. News: Smith . Sloan . New acting RBDF commander . 10 May 2021 . ewnews.com . Eyewitness News . 16 October 2019.
  8. Web site: Thompson . Lindsay . Prime Minister Welcomes a New Commander of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force . bahamas.gov.bs . 10 May 2021 . 21 May 2020.