Antonette Wemyss Gorman promoted to Vice Admiral
Published:Wednesday | May 1, 2024 | 5:47 PM
Chief of Defence Staff of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), Rear Admiral Antonette Wemyss Gorman, has been promoted to Vice Admiral (Lieutenant General).
The promotion, which is to take effect on May 10, was approved by the Defence Board.
A statement today from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) indicated that Wemyss Gorman has provided steady leadership of the JDF with the trust and high morale of soldiers.
She was appointed Chief of Defence Staff in January 2022.
Her career spans 32 years at various command levels.
OPM says 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.
It further stated that 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.
“Rear Admiral Wemyss Gorman commands the respect of her peers regionally and has established operational MOU's 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.”
Meanwhile, the Defence Board has also recommended the promotions of three colonels to the rank of brigadier.
They are Colonel Mahatma Williams, who is currently the Brigade Commander of the Jamaica Regiment, Colonel Oneil Bogle, who is currently the President of the Caribbean Military Academy, and Colonel Elon Clarke, who is currently the Brigade Commander of the Maritime, Air and Cyber Command.
The promotions take effect on May 10.
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