Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit (born 23 September 1966) is a retired Bruneian military officer and politician. He previously served as the ninth Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) from 2014 to 2015. He was also the Deputy Minister of Defence from 2015 to 2018.[2]

Abdul Aziz Mohd Tamit
عبدالعزيز محمد تاميت
Deputy Minister Abdul Aziz in 2016
4th Deputy Minister of Defence
In office
22 October 2016 – 30 January 2018
MonarchHassanal Bolkiah
MinisterHassanal Bolkiah
Halbi Mohammad Yussof
Preceded byMustappa Sirat
Succeeded byOffice abolished
9th Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy
In office
28 February 2014 – 13 March 2015
DeputyPengiran Norazmi
Othman Suhaili[1]
Preceded byAbdul Halim
Succeeded byPengiran Norazmi
Personal details
Born (1966-09-23) 23 September 1966 (age 58)[2]
Brunei
Education
Profession
  • Military officer
  • politician
Military service
Allegiance Brunei
Branch/service Royal Brunei Navy
Years of service1984–2015
Rank First Admiral
Unit
Commands
  • Royal Brunei Navy
  • Joint Force Commander

Military career

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In January 1984, Abdul Aziz enlisted into the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF). Following his initial officer training at the Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth in the United Kingdom, he graduated as a midshipman in 1985, and selected the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) as his operational service branch. Abdul Aziz was promoted to the rank of lieutenant junior grade in 1986, and later lieutenant in 1990. He was further promoted to lieutenant commander and commander, in 1994 and 2002 respectively.

During his service with the RBN, Commander Abdul Aziz held several positions; including gunnery officer, navigation officer, and executive officer of several ships; KDB Perwira, KDB Pejuang, and KDB Waspada.[2]

Several other notable positions held by Abdul Aziz include the RBN's Fleet Commander twice from 9 March 2003 to 22 December 2005, and 29 June 2006 to 1 April 2007. Upon his promotion to the rank of captain in 2006, he was appointed as; the SO3 Doctrine and Staff Duties in Directorate of Training, the Head of Naval Project in Directorate of Operations in 2007, the Head of Special Project in Deputy Minister of Defence Secretariat, the Director of Force Capability Development and Director of Operations on 14 November 2007.[2]

 
First Admiral Abdul Aziz during CARAT 2012.

Before being finally promoted to First Admiral in 2011, Captain Abdul Aziz was the RBAF's Joint Force Commander on 23 November 2009. Later appointed as the ninth Commander of RBN on 28 February 2014.[3] Not long after his appointment, the RBN would reach another milestone by joining the Multilateral Maritime Exercise (MMEx) and International Fleet Review (IFR) for the first time.The exercise, hosted by the People's Liberation Army Navy, would be joined by KDB Darulehsan (07) in Qingdao, China from 20 to 24 April 2014.[4] Later that year on 9 September, him alongside Commander Mohammad Tawih and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah attended the commissioning ceremony of the newly acquired KDB Daruttaqwa (09) at the Muara Naval Base.[5]

Another Navy milestone was achieved during RIMPAC's SINKEX on 18 July 2014, when KDB Darussalam (06) and KDB Darulaman (08) successfully launched their Exocet MM40 missiles.[6] On 13 March 2015, the handover ceremony of the command of the Royal Brunei Navy was held between Abdul Aziz and Norazmi Muhammad.[7]

Military education

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Throughout his career, Abdul Aziz attended several institutes and training overseas: the Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth in the United Kingdom in 1985; the International Sub Lieutenant, International Communication and Electronic Warfare, International Principal Warfare Officer Courses in United Kingdom; the Naval Junior Staff Course in Australia; the Naval Staff Course at Naval War College, Newport, United States in 1999; the National Security Staff Course at Canadian Forces College, Toronto, Canada in 2006; the Executive Development Programme at Universiti Brunei Darussalam in 2002; the Negotiation Programme at Said Business School, University of Oxford, England in 2007; and the Senior Executives in National and International Security at Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, United States in 2013.[2]

Political career

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On 13 March 2015, Abdul Aziz was appointed as the Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Defence.[8] To improve understandings on naval aviation and carrier strike group operations, Ambassador Craig B. Allen and Deputy Minister Abdul Aziz visited the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74), hosted by Rear Admiral Marcus A. Hitchcock on 18 May 2016.[9] On 16 November 2017, he became the guest of honour during the decommissioning ceremony of his previous ship, KDB Perwira.[10] After an officially announcement on 30 January 2018, Halbi bin Mohammad Yussof would replace him as the new Second Minister of Defence after the 2018 cabinet reshuffle, hence the deputy minister of defence's office was abolished.[11]

Personal life

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Abdul Aziz is married to Sakdiah binti Haji Mohd Noor, they have three children together. In his spare time, he is a keen golfer and enjoys reading.[2]

Honours

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National

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Foreign

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References

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  1. ^ "11th Commander – First Admiral Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Othman bin Hj Suhaili @ Suhaily". Navy.MinDef.gov.uk. Muara Naval Base, Brunei Darussalam: Royal Brunei Navy, Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence Brunei Darussalam. n.d. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "9th Commander – First Admiral Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit". Navy.MinDef.gov.bn. Muara Naval Base, Brunei Darussalam: Royal Brunei Navy, Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence Brunei Darussalam. n.d. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Royal Brunei Navy receives new Commander". Navy.MinDef.gov.bn. Muara Naval Base, Brunei Darussalam: Royal Brunei Navy, Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence Brunei Darussalam. 28 February 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Brunei joins China Navy exercise for first time". MinDef.gov.bn. Muara Naval Base, Brunei Darussalam: Ministry of Defence Brunei Darussalam. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  5. ^ Danial Norjidi (9 September 2014). "Crown Prince commissions new patrol vessel in Muara". Sultanate.com. Muara Naval Base, Brunei Darussalam: Borneo Bulletin. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Royal Brunei Navy Darussalam class OPVs fired their MM40 block II missiles during RIMPAC 2014". NavyRecognition.com. Navy Recognition. 18 July 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  7. ^ "10th Commander – First Admiral Pengiran Dato Seri Pahlawan Norazmi Bin Pengiran Haji Muhammad". Navy.MinDef.gov.bn. Muara Naval Base, Brunei Darussalam: Royal Brunei Navy, Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence Brunei Darussalam. n.d. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Official announcement of newly appointed Deputy Commander of RBAF". MinDef.gov.bn. Bandar Seri Begawan: Ministry of Defence Brunei Darussalam. 15 March 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  9. ^ "The Deputy Minister of Defence visits US Navy aircraft carrier USS John C Stennis". BruneiNewsGazette.com. Brunei News Gazette. 17 May 2016. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  10. ^ Achong Tanjong (17 November 2017). "End of road for KDB Perwira". Borneo363.rssing.com. Borneo Bulletin Online. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  11. ^ "HM announces surprise cabinet reshuffle — full list of new appointees". The Scoop. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  12. ^ Samle Haji Jait (15 July 2011). "Istiadat Mengadap dan Mengurniakan Bintang-Bintang Kebesaran gilang-gemilang" (PDF). www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn (in Malay). p. IV-V. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  13. ^ a b c d e f "Commander Royal Brunei Navy makes farewell visit to Singapore". MINDEF.gov.sg. Ministry of Defence Singapore. 4 March 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  14. ^ "Deputy Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces receives prestigious military award". MINDEF.gov.sg. Ministry of Defence Singapore. 11 June 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
Military offices
Preceded by 9th Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy
28 February 2014 – 13 March 2015
Succeeded by
Preceded by Joint Force Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces
23 November 2009 – 19 December 2014
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by 4th Deputy Minister of Defence
22 October 2015 – 30 January 2018
Succeeded by
office abolished
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  Media related to Abdul Aziz Mohd Tamit at Wikimedia Commons