Jamaica Defence Board promotes chief

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Rear Admiral Antonette Wemyss Gorman has been promoted to vice admiral (lieutenant general) effective May 10, following approval from the Defence Board.

The announcement was made in a media statement from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) on Wednesday. Three colonels have also been promoted to brigadier at the same time.

Rear Admiral Wemyss Gorman was appointed CDS on January 21 2022. Her career spans 32 years at various command levels.

As CDS, the OPM said she has provided steady leadership of the force with trust and high morale of the soldiers, and has kept the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) on track with its 2017 to 2037 strategic plan as outlined in the Strategic Defence Review, whose update she led in 2021.

The OPM noted that she has placed high priority on the initiation of the Institute of Cyber Science, and the development of the military intelligence capability, resulting in more targeted operations and support to the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

“Rear Admiral Wemyss Gorman has systematically expanded the force’s footprint across the island establishing forward operating bases in Clarendon, St Catherine, St Thomas, Portland, Westmoreland and Hanover,” the prime minister’s office said.

“She has significantly expanded youth and community engagement with the JDF directly interacting with over 35,000 young Jamaicans annually.

“Under her stewardship, the Jamaica National Service Corps programme is currently being reviewed to adjust and diversify the opportunities available to participants. At the same time, securing the Blue Economy, resulting in a downward trend in illegal fishing, has also been an area of focus,” it continued.

Rear Admiral Wemyss Gorman commands the respect of her peers regionally and has established operational Memorandums of Understanding with the Armed Forces of the Dominican Republic, Cayman Island Coast Guard and Guyana Defence Force.

The JDF now leads an annual multinational exercise to enhance interoperability in regional security and was asked to lead the Caricom Joint Task Force’s participation in the UN sanctioned multinational security support mission to Haiti.

The Defence Board, acting on the recommendation of the CDS, also approved the promotion of Colonel Mahatma Williams, Colonel Oneil Bogle, and Colonel Elon Clarke to the ranks of brigadier.

All three senior officers are graduates of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom and have earned post graduate degrees.