​​​​​FIRST ADMIRAL SAHIBUL BAHARI BIN HAJI ZAINAL ABIDIN

First Admiral Sahibul Bahari bin Haji Zainal Abidin, RBN, assumed the appointment as the Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) on 10^th January 2025. He began his military career on 6^th November 1996, when he enlisted in the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF). First Admiral Sahibul was commissioned as an officer after successfully completing the Naval Officer Cadet Course at the Royal Britannia Naval College, Dartmouth, United Kingdom, on 12^th May 1998.

Following his training, he attended the International Sub-Lieutenant Course at HMS DRAKE in the United Kingdom. In the early years of his career, First Admiral Sahibul served as an Officer Under Training aboard KDB SETERIA. Over time, he has held several key command and staff appointments within the Royal Brunei Navy. From 2000 to 2006, First Admiral Sahibul served as the Executive Officer for KDB PEMBURU, KDB SETERIA, and KDB PEJUANG. In 2006, he was appointed Commanding Officer of KDB PEMBURU and KDB PERWIRA, serving until 2009.

From 2009 to 2011, First Admiral Sahibul served as Staff Officer Grade 2, Inspectorate RBN, and later became the Head of the Royal Brunei Navy Inspectorate Cell, a position he held from 2014 to 2016. Between 2011 and 2014, he served as Executive Officer for KDB DARULAMAN and KDB DARUSSALAM. In 2016, First Admiral Sahibul assumed the role of Commanding Officer for KDB DARUTTAQWA, serving until 2017. In 2017, he was appointed Fleet Chief of Staff, and in 2018, he was appointed Chief of Staff of the Royal Brunei Navy.

On 22nd August 2019, after his tenure as Chief of Staff, First Admiral Sahibul was appointed as Aide-De-Camp to His Majesty The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam, a prestigious role which he held until 14^th August 2022. After concluding his Aide-De-Camp appointment, First Admiral Sahibul furthered his professional development by attending the National Defense College of the Philippines, where he earned a Master’s degree in National Security Administration. First Admiral Sahibul returned to the Royal Brunei Navy in 2023 and resumed his role as Fleet Commander.

On 10^th January 2025, with the consent of His Majesty The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam, he was appointed Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy. He was subsequently promoted to the rank of First Admiral on 8th August 2025.

Throughout his career, First Admiral Sahibul has pursued several career-enhancing courses, including the Command Staff Course at the Defense Academy of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and the Executive Development Program at the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies. First Admiral Sahibul is a qualified Specialist Communication Officer, Mine Hunting Officer, and Principal Warfare Officer. His operational experience includes commanding the Counter Piracy Task Group 151 (CTG151) in Somalia and contributing to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations in Tacloban following Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.

He has received numerous honors throughout his distinguished career, including the Long Service Medal in 2014 (PKL), the Darjah Setia Negara Brunei Yang Amat Bahagia Darjah Keempat (P.S.B) in 2022, and the Darjah Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Yang Amat Mulia Darjah Ketiga (S.M.B) in 2023.

First Admiral Sahibul is married to Haniwati binti Haji Bakar, and together they are blessed with two sons and two daughter.

​​​​​CAPTAIN KHAIRIL HAJI ABDUL RAHMAN​​

Captain Khairil Haji Abdul Rahman, Royal Brunei Navy (RBN).  Born in Brunei Darussalam on the 6^th of July 1975.  He enlisted into the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) in January 1991, joining the 13^th Intake of the Boys Company. He was then awarded a scholarship program from the Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) Ordinary National Diploma in Electrical, Electronic, Communication and Computer Engineering at South Devon College, Torquay, United Kingdom, from 1993 to 1995.

He later returned in August 1995 as an Officer Cadet of the RBN. He graduated as a midshipman in April 1998 from Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, United Kingdom. He was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade in 1998, Lieutenant rank in 2003, Lieutenant Commander Rank in 2007 and Commander Rank in 2013.

Captain Khairil’s early years in RBN were primarily spent on board the Missile Gun Boats and Coastal Patrol Craft, where he held appointments such as Navigation Officer, Executive Officer and Commanding Officer.  Staff tour in the Navy Headquarters as Staff Officer Grade 3 Admin and Personnel, and later appointed as the RBN Navigation Officer.  Other staff appointment held was as the Staff Officer Grade 2 Joint Maritime Operation at the Joint Force Headquarters, where he had the opportunity as Joint Staff during Exercise Tempest Express in Australia and also as the secretariat for ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting – Plus (ADMM+) Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR) and Military Medicine (MM) Exercise 2013 in which later take the role as Exercise Controller Staff for RBN.  He had undergone various professional courses abroad, such as the International Sub-Lieutenant, International Long Navigation, and International Principal Warfare Officer in the United Kingdom. He attended the Basic Diving, Mine Hunting Officer and Anti-Submarine Warfare in the Republic of Singapore. In addition, Bridge Resource Management by STET, IMO Level 3 OSR Training, Long-Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT), RBAF Command & Staff Course and RBAF 12^th Executive Development Programme attended locally.

The first command appointment was as the Commanding Officer (CO) of KDB PEMBURU, one of the PERWIRA Class, Coastal Patrol Craft (CPC) in 2004.  He was later appointed CO KDB PERWIRA in mid-2005 whilst assuming the post of CPC Squadron Commander. After returning from the International Principal Warfare Officer Course, he commanded KDB SETERIA, a WASPADA Class Missile Gun Boat, in 2006.

Throughout his career, Captain Khairil has been involved in two RBN shipbuilding projects in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2003 and Bremen, Federal Republic of Germany, in 2009. At the end of the tour in Bremen, Captain Khairil assumed command of KDB SYAFAAT, one of the Fast Patrol Boat, IJHTIHAD Class. In 2014, he re-joined the project team in Bremen to commission the final Patrol Vessel DARUTTAQWA and sailed her back to Negara Brunei Darussalam as the Commanding Officer.

In November 2013, Captain Khairil assumed command of KDB DARUSSALAM for the Typhoon Haiyan HADR deployment to Tacloban, Republic of the Philippines. Subsequently, Captain Khairil commanded KDB DARUTTAQWA to participate in Exercise SEAGULL in Palawan, Republic of Philippines, in 2014, IMDEX in Singapore in 2015, and Exercise KOMODO in Padang, Republic of Indonesia, in 2016. In July 2016, Commander Khairil was appointed Chief of Staff of RBN Headquarters and the Commandant of Naval Training, Naval Training Centre in May 2018. On 12 October 2020, he was appointed Fleet Commander and led many operations. He also played a crucial role in KDB DARULEHSAN, participating in the first ASEAN Solidarity Exercise in Natuna, Indonesia. He also boosted the Royal Brunei Navy’s capabilities, including the Fleet Tactical Aircraft Squadron (FTAS) with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). On 3 November 2023, Captain Khairil assumed the position of Acting Deputy Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy.

Captain Khairil attended the Defence College in Thailand, the National Defence College, the National Defence Studies Institute, and the Royal Thai Armed Forces from October 2019 to September 2020.

Throughout his service, Captain Khairil has been awarded the Most Honourable Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei, 3^rd Class (S.M.B.), the Most Blessed Order of Setia Negara Brunei 4^th Class (P.S.B.), Golden Jubilee (P.J.E), and the Military Civic Action Medal awarded by the Republic of the Philippines on completion of Typhoon Haiyan Relief.

Captain Khairil is an avid fitness enthusiast. He is happily married to Suryanti Binti Haji Mohammad Noor, and blessed with two daughters and a son.

CAPTAIN SONNY ISKANDAR BIN RASANI​​

Captain Sonny Iskandar bin Rasani, RBN, assumed the appointment as the Fleet Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) on 10 October 2025. He was commissioned into the Royal Brunei Navy as an Executive Branch Officer in 2002, following recruit training at the Institut Latihan ABDB and initial officer training at HMNZS TAMAKI, Auckland, New Zealand. 

Throughout his career, Captain Sonny Iskandar has also commanded two DARUSSALAM-CLASS patrol vessels, Commanding Officer of KDB DARUSSALAM and KDB DARULEHSAN, demonstrating his experience, proficiency in naval operations and leadership at sea. Prior to his current appointment as Fleet Commander, he also served as Chief of Staff of the Royal Brunei Navy from 10 February 2025 to 9 October 2025.

Captain Sonny Iskandar has completed various specialized courses, enhancing his expertise in naval warfare and maritime operations. These include the Diving and Mine Hunting Officer’s Course in Singapore, the Intermediate Navigation Course in Australia, and the Long Navigation and Principal Warfare Officers Course in the United Kingdom.

In addition to operational roles, Captain Sonny Iskandar has held significant staff appointments, such as Military Assistant to the Deputy Minister of Defence and Chief of Staff at RBN Headquarters. He also served as Brunei Darussalam’s inaugural Defence Advisor to Australia, where he contributed to strengthening bilateral defence relations. 

Captain Sonny Iskandar is a graduate of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Command and Staff College, earning a Master’s degree in International Security Studies and receiving the Commandant’s Award for his performance. In 2023, he attended the National Resilience College in Putrajaya, Malaysia where he was awarded the designation of “Fellow” by the Malaysian National Defence University following his tenure at the College.

Captain Sonny is a native of Kampong Lamunin, Tutong, Brunei Darussalam. He is happily married to Puan Siti Maszuraimah binti Haji Mahmud, and they have three children—a son and two daughters.

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​CAPTAIN MOHAMMAD FAIZAL BIN HAJI ABAS 

Captain Mohammad Faizal Ezam bin Haji Abas is the current Chief of Staff of the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN), a position he has held since 10 October 2025. He previously served as the Commandant Naval Training, Royal Brunei Navy, from 14 June 2024 until his current appointment.

He enlisted into the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) on 8 May 2000 and was commissioned as a Sub-Lieutenant in August 2001 upon completing the Naval Officer Cadet Course at the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, United Kingdom.

Following his commissioning, he began his naval career as an Officer Under Training onboard the missile gunboat KDB SETERIA. In 2002, he was transferred to the Engineering Department as the Assistant Marine Engineering Officer. In January 2003, he attended professional engineering training overseas, completing the Marine Engineering Application Course at HMAS CERBERUS, Australia.

In June 2003, Captain Mohammad Faizal Ezam was appointed as Senior Marine Engineering Officer (SMEO) for the Offshore Patrol Vessel Project in Scotland, where he served until July 2006. Upon his return to Brunei, he assumed several appointments including Staff Officer Grade 2 Navy at the Directorate of Force Capability Development, Ministry of Defence, followed by roles as Fleet Engineering Officer and Staff Officer Grade 2 Inspectorate at the Royal Brunei Navy Headquarters.

In August 2008, he was once again posted overseas as SMEO for the Ijhtihad Project (Fast Patrol Boat) and Darussalam Project (Patrol Vessel) in Bremen, Germany, serving until May 2011. Upon his return, he was posted to KDB DARUSSALAM as part of the first crew and the maiden voyage team, serving as the Marine Engineering Officer until January 2016. During the induction of the Ijhtihad and Darussalam Class vessels into fleet service, he was later re-assigned as Fleet Engineering Officer (2013–2014) and Base Marine Engineering Officer (2014–2017).

In January 2017, he was appointed Commanding Officer Logistics, Royal Brunei Navy, a position he held until November 2018. He subsequently served as Staff Officer 1 Logistics at the Directorate of Logistics, Ministry of Defence, from 2018 to 2020. On 31 December 2020, he was posted to the Directorate of Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, and appointed as the Brunei Darussalam Defence Attaché to the People’s Republic of China, serving in Beijing until 13 February 2024.

Throughout his career, Captain Mohammad Faizal Ezam has attended several career-enhancing courses, including the Command and Staff Course at the RBAF Defence Academy in 2013, and the Executive Development Programme at the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (SHHBIDSS) in 2018.

In recognition of his dedicated service, he has been awarded the General Service Medal, Excellent Service Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal (P.J.K). He also received a Commemorative Medal from the People’s Liberation Army upon completion of his tenure as Defence Attaché to the People’s Republic of China.

Captain Mohammad Faizal Ezam is married to Pengiran Hajah Noralifpahwati binti Pengiran Haji Jaludin and they are blessed with two sons and a daughter. In his leisure time, he enjoys playing golf, cycling, and jogging.

​​COMMANDER HAJI AINOLNIZAM BIN HAJI IBRAHIM

Commander Shahairil bin Haji Md Shahlan, RBN assumed the appointment of Head of Inspectorate Cell on 10 October 2025. He was commissioned as a Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) officer in 2001 after completing Officer Cadet Training at Britannia Royal Naval College, United Kingdom. Over his distinguished career, he has held various key appointments, including Commanding Officer of Maintenance, Assistance Chief of Staff Capability Development, Senior Weapon Project Engineer for MINDEF’s Special Project Group and Weapons Engineering Officer onboard KDB DARUSSALAM Patrol Vessel.

Throughout his career, he has been at the forefront of RBN’s capability development projects, and he was actively involved in strategic planning for the RBAF’s Force 2035 vision. Notably, he contributed to the Ships Building Project for IJHTIHAD Class Fast Patrol Boats and DARUSSALAM Class Patrol Vessels in Bremen, Germany from 2008 to 2010. He played a pivotal role in introducing unmanned system capabilities as force multipliers for the RBN. From 2018 until 2023, he served as the head of the first Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) acquisition project and subsequently overseeing the formation of the Fleet Tactical Aircraft Squadron in 2023. He also led the first Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) acquisition project from 2020 to 2023. In addition, he spearheaded the transfer of the Republic Singapore Navy’s former Fearless Class Patrol Vessels to the RBN between 2020 and 2021. He further contributed to RBN capacity building initiatives through the acquisition and implementation of the Full-Mission Bridge Simulator (FMBS) for the Naval Training Centre from 2021 to 2022. More recently, he oversaw the organisational restructuring of the RBN Maintenance Department and initiated several digital transformation efforts to modernise the Navy’s maintenance ecosystem.

Commander Shahairil holds a Bachelor of Electronics and Micro Engineering from the University of South Australia. He completed a Master in International Security (MintSy) from Massey University in 2016 as part of the Fourth RBAF Command and Staff Course. In 2024, he completed a Master of Public Policy and Management (MPPM) from the University of Brunei Darussalam, where he graduated with distinction and was awarded the University Book Prize. He is also a Fellow of the University of California Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy, having completed the Executive Public Policy for Internationals programme in 2024.

In recognition of his exemplary service, Commander Shahairil was awarded with Meritorious Service Medal (PJK) and Excellent Service Medal (PIKB) for his dedication and outstanding contributions. He is a member of Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and the Project Management Institute (PMI). Commander Shahairil is a proud father of two sons and a daughter, continues to lead with innovative approach, steadfast integrity and commitment to achieving excellence.

Warrant Officer 1 Mohammad Nasri bin Ladis, RBN, assumed the appointment as Royal Brunei Navy Sergeant Major on 17 February 2025.

Born in Brunei Darussalam, he enlisted into the Royal Brunei Navy on 4 February 1998. Throughout his career, he has served in various appointments both ashore and at sea.

Prior to his current appointment, he served as the School Sergeant Major for the Officer Cadet School. His other notable appointments include Fleet Administration Supervisor at RBN Fleet Headquarters, and seagoing roles such as Coxswain of KDB DARULEHSAN, Outboard Motor personnel on KDB TERABAN, and Gunnery personnel onboard KDB TERABAN, KDB SATRIA, and KDB PERWIRA. He also served as Instructor for Officer Cadet School from Intake 3 through 15, and Instructor at the Recruit Company from 2004 to 2006.

He has completed several professional and specialist courses, including Weapon System Class 1 and 2 Course in Singapore, as well as Qualifying Coxswain, Specialist Coxswain, and Company Sergeant Major Courses locally.

He served as the Parade Sergeant Major during the Sovereign’s Parade for Officer Cadet School Intake 22, and also took part in the Fleet Review – Qingdao, China (2019) and Exercise Hornbill onboard KDB DARULEHSAN.

Warrant Officer 1 Mohammad Nasri is married to Noorhafillah binti Awg Mahmud, and they have five children—four sons and one daughter.​