By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

CAPTAIN Floyd Moxey will become the next Commodore of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF), succeeding Commodore Raymond King.

National Security Minister Wayne Munroe confirmed the leadership change yesterday, also announcing that Captain Carlon Bethell, branch commander of communications, and Captain Natasha Miller, force inspectorate officer, will take on the roles of Deputy Commodore.

According to the force’s official website, Captain Moxey has held several positions within the RBDF, including staff officer for legal affairs and base executive officer.

Free National Movement leader Michael Pintard has called on the Davis administration to explain why Commodore King is being replaced.

Yesterday, Mr Munroe said senior officers are aware that such appointments are tied to the tenure of the administration in office and typically conclude when their term does.

Mr Munroe said that while in the early days of the RBDF, it may have been difficult to find a replacement for a departing commodore, that is no longer the case due to the depth of qualified leadership within the force. He also acknowledged that political administrations often influence senior military appointments, drawing a comparison to practices in the United States.

Commodore King began acting in the role in October 2019 under the Minnis administration and was officially confirmed the following year, succeeding former Commodore Tellis Bethel.