Mohammad Sharif Ibrahim

In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Ibrahim is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Mohammad Sharif. The word "bin" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.
Brigadier General Dato Seri Pahlawan
Mohammad Sharif Ibrahim
PSPNB SMB PSB PIKB
محمد شريف إبراهيم
Brigadier general Mohammad Sharif in 2024
8th Commander of the Royal Brunei Air Force
Incumbent
Assumed office
28 August 2020 (2020-08-28)[1]
MonarchHassanal Bolkiah
DeputyHaszahaidi Ahmad Daud
Preceded byHamzah Sahat
Personal details
BornBrunei
SpouseNoraidah Ibrahim
Alma mater
Profession
  • Military officer
  • pilot
  • flight instructor
Military service
Allegiance Brunei
Branch/service Royal Brunei Air Force
Years of service1993–present[1]
Rank Brigadier General
UnitNo. 5 Squadron (CN 235)
Training Wing (PC-7 Mk.II)
CommandsRoyal Brunei Air Force
Operations Group RBAirF
Joint Force Commander

Mohammad Sharif bin Haji Ibrahim is a Bruneian airman who is the current commander of the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) since 28 August 2020.[1] He became the first commanding officer (CO) of the Officer Cadet School (OCS), Defence Academy Royal Brunei Armed Forces (DA RBAF), programme manager at the Centre of Science and Technology Research and Development (CSTRAD), and the country's first defence attaché in Washington, D.C. in the United States.[1]

Military career

In February 1993, Mohammad Sharif enlisted into the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF), being assigned 413 as his service number.[2] He subsequently commissioned in February 1994, after finishing the Initial Officer Training at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell near Cranwell in England, United Kingdom. During his time at RAF Cranwell, he attended basic flying training and multi-engine flying, which would go on to allow him to fly the IPTN CN 235, a twin-engined transport aircraft. In 1999, Mohammad Sharif went to Singapore to attend the Flying Instructor's Course, in return be able to instruct pilots in the IPTN CN 235 and Pilatus PC-7 Mk.II back in Brunei.[1]

Mohammad Sharif was appointed as the Director of Intelligence in the Ministry of Defence on 19 March 2018, and later became the Joint Force Commander of the RBAF on 19 April 2019. He succeeded Hamzah Sahat as the 15th commander of the RBAirF on 28 August 2020.[3] The handover ceremony between the two was held at Royal Brunei Air Force Base, Rimba, near Bandar Seri Begawan.[3][4]

During the Royal Brunei Air Force's 55th anniversary ceremony parade at the Air Movement Centre (AMC), Royal Brunei Air Force Base, Rimba, on 24 June 2021, he made a statement to Borneo Bulletin,

The Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) strives to always continue its role and duties effectively.

— Mohammad Sharif Ibrahim, Borneo Bulletin, 24 June 2021

Mohammad Sharif oversaw the decommissioning of the RBAirF No. 1 Squadron's entire Bolkow BO105 helicopter fleet after 41 years of service. The retirement ceremony was held at the Air Movement Centre (AMC), Royal Brunei Air Force Base, Rimba, on 5 February 2022.[5]

Military education

Throughout his career, Mohammad Sharif attended several institutes and training overseas, including the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Junior Staff Course at the New Zealand Defence College, Upper Hutt in 2001; the Joint Services Command and Staff College, Shrivenham, United Kingdom in 2008; the National Defence College, New Delhi, India in 2014; and the Higher Defence Course in Spain in 2016. From 2008 to 2014, he also obtained Master of Arts (MA) in Defence studies from King's College London, United Kingdom, and a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Defence and Strategic Studies from Madras University, Chennai, India.[1]

Personal life

Mohammad Sharif is married to Noraidah binti Haji Ibrahim, and together they have two children. In addition, he enjoys running and cycling.[1]

Honours

National

See also: Orders, decorations, and medals of Brunei

Foreign

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Royal Brunei Air Force – Commander of Royal Brunei Air Force - Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Mohammad Sharif bin Dato Paduka Haji Ibrahim". MinDef.gov.bn. Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  2. ^ Wani Roslan (19 April 2019). "Two RBAF senior officers promoted". Borneo363.rssing.com. Bolkiah Garrison: rssing.com. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Upacara Serah Terima Tugas Pemerintah TUDB" [RBAirF government handover ceremony]. BruDirect.com (in Malay). 29 August 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  4. ^ Rokiah Mahmud (29 August 2020). "Royal Brunei Air Force welcomes new Commander". BorneoBulletin.com.bn. Borneo Bulletin Online. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  5. ^ "Air Force retires Bolkow 105 helicopters". BorneoBulletin.com.bn. Borneo Bulletin Online. 5 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  6. ^ Danial Norjidi (16 July 2019). "State decorations recipients express gratitude to His Majesty". BorneoBulletin.com.bn. Borneo Bulletin Online. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e "CARAT Brunei 2019". dvidshub.net. Maura, Brunei: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS). 22 October 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2023.[failed verification]
  8. ^ "Four Royal Brunei Air Force personnel bestowed with Brunei Darussalam's State Honourary Decoration". MinDef.gov.bn. Bandar Seri Begawan: Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam. 19 August 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  9. ^ "Agong berkenan kurnia 100 pingat pada istiadat DKAT 2024" (in Malay). Sinar Harian. 29 October 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Commander of the Royal Brunei Air Force makes introductory visit and receives prestigious military award". MinDef.gov.bn. MINDEF, Singapore: Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Commander of the Royal Brunei Air Force makes introductory visit and receives prestigious military award". www.MINDEF.gov.sg. Singapore: MINDEF, Government of Singapore. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.

Media related to Mohammad Sharif Ibrahim at Wikimedia Commons

Military offices
Preceded by 8th Commander of the Royal Brunei Air Force
28 August 2020 – present 		Succeeded by
incumbent
Preceded by Joint Force Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces
19 April 2019 – 28 August 2020 		Succeeded by