Chief of the Defence Staff (Tonga)
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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.
| Chief of the Defence Staff | |
|---|---|
| |
| His Majesty's Armed Forces | |
| Reports to | Minister for HMAF |
| Formation | 1977 |
| First holder | Fetuʻutolu Tupou |
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]
List of officeholders
| No. | Portrait | Name (birth–death) |
Term of office | Ref. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||
| Commander of the Tongan Defence Services | ||||||
| 1 | .jpg) |
Colonel Fetuʻutolu Tupou (?–2005) |
1977 | 31 March 2000 | 22–23 years | [2] |
| 2 | _(cropped).jpg) |
Brigadier general Tauʻaika ʻUtaʻatu (born 1956) |
31 March 2000 | 5 November 2013 | 13 years, 219 days | [3] |
| Chief of the Defence Staff of the HMAF[1] | ||||||
| 2 | |
Brigadier general Tauʻaika ʻUtaʻatu (born 1956) |
5 November 2013 | 21 December 2014 | 1 year, 46 days | [3] |
| 3 |  |
Brigadier general Tupou Tongapoʻuli Aleamotuʻa (born 1966) |
21 December 2014 | Incumbent | 11 years, 266 days | [4] |