Commodore Shurland to head Barbados Defence Force

The Barbados Defence Force (BDF) will have a new Chief of Staff from September 1, 2021.

The Defence Board has approved the appointment of current Executive Director of the Regional Security System, Errington Ricardo Shurland, who has been promoted from the rank of Captain to Commodore — the second-highest attainable rank for a Barbados Coast Guard officer.

Prior to taking over leadership of the RSS in 2017, Commodore Shurland was Deputy Chief of Staff of the BDF, with more than three decades of service in the military.

A graduate of the Britania Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, England, and the Command and General Staff College of the United States Army, at Fort Leavenworth, Commodore Shurland also holds a master’s degree in Maritime Administration from the World Maritime University in Malmo, Sweden.

The veteran military officer has also represented Barbados at the Organisation of American States, the Inter American Defence Board, and the International Maritime Organisation, along with being a Barbados delegate at the United Nations. He has received several decorations for his service to the country.

Commodore Shurland, the first Coast Guard officer to lead the military, will take over command from Colonel Glyne Grannum during a brief ceremony at BDF headquarters, St. Ann’s Fort, The Garrison, tomorrow (Sep. 1) morning.

The retirement age of a serving Chief of Staff of the BDF is 55 years. However, recognizing that Col. Grannum possesses specialist skills in emergency management that could be of value as the country battles the effects of climate change on several fronts, Cabinet has agreed to his transition to assist the Government in this area. (PMO)