Jocklin Kongpaw

Bruneian military officer and diplomat

جوچكلين كوڠڤاو
Junior lieutenant Jocklin being awarded his pilot badge by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah in 1968
2nd Commander of the Royal Brunei Air ForceIn office
27 March 1986 – 1990MonarchHassanal BolkiahPreceded byAbidin AhmadSucceeded byIbrahim Mohammed
Diplomatic positions
High Commissioner of Brunei to Canada
In office
10 January 1998 – 2001
Succeeded byMagdalene Teo
High Commissioner of Brunei to Australia
In office
2001–2004
Preceded byAhmad Murad
Succeeded byAdnan Mohd Ja'afar
Personal detailsBorn
Jocklin bin Kongpaw
Occupation
  • Military officer
  • diplomat
Military serviceAllegiance BruneiBranch/service Royal Brunei Land Forces
 Royal Brunei Air ForceYears of service1965–1996Rank ColonelCommandsAir Wing
Director of Personnel

Jocklin bin Kongpaw is a Bruneian military officer and diplomat who became the high commissioner to Canada from 1998 to 2001,[1] and Australia from 2001 to 2004.[2]

Being the first pilots in the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF), he and Pengiran Abidin have indirectly aided in the expansion and development of the RBAirF.[3]

Education

Junior Lieutenants Abidin and Jocklin completed a two-month RAF Air Crew Selection training at Biggin Hill, Westerham, and returned to Brunei on 11 September 1966.[4] After completing all domestic and foreign flight training, two local officers, Second Lieutenants Abidin and Jocklin, were given the pilot badge for the first time by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah on 6 August 1968, marking a very significant moment for the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment (AMDB).[5] This event is also remembered by the AMDB as the first in the history of the organization for having produced two successful local military pilots. The presentation ceremony was further enhanced at that time by a flight display at Istana Darul Hana that utilised a Bell 206B helicopter. The two pilots from the area shown a very high level of skill and effectiveness.[6]

AMDB created history on 14 August 1967, when the two pilots were sent to British Executive Air Services Limited, Kidlington, Oxford, for Basic Flight Training. Before going to training in the UK, the two officers also completed flying school in Sabah, Malaysia, to obtain a pilot's license. After completing basic training, the two pilots underwent ninety hours of Advanced Flight Training on a Bell 206B helicopter under the supervision of Major Herbert Marshall, the commanding commander of the Helicopter Platoon, AMDB. Both pilots have flown a range of RBAirF aircraft in various capacities and have served as officers.[6]

Military career

Colonel Jocklin was also the second indigenous officer to be appointed as the Air Branch, AMDB's commanding commander on 27 March 1986, succeeding Lieutenant Colonel Abidin.[7] After being advanced to the rank of Colonel in 1990, he assumed the position of Director of Membership and Administration within the Ministry of Defence. From 4 January 1994 to 31 January 1996, he was appointed as the Director of Personnel.[8] He spent 31 years working at ABDB.[9]

Diplomatic career

On 10 January 1998, he was presented his credentials by the Sultan, as the high commissioner to Canada until 2001.[10] He would be reappointed as the high commissioner to Australia from 2001 to 2004.[11][12]

Honours

A road in Rimba Air Force Base was named Jocklin Drive on 22 April 2022.[13] Examples of honours awarded to him;[8]

References

  1. ^ "The Ottawa Citizen from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada". Newspapers.com. 2 October 2000. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  2. ^ Borneo Bulletin Brunei Yearbook. Brunei Press Sdn. Bhd. in collaboration with Integrated Information Pte. Limited. 2003. p. 49.
  3. ^ "Imbau Sejarah Dua Juruterbang TUDB | Brunei's No.1 News Website". www.brudirect.com. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  4. ^ "Pegawai2 A.M.D.B. Balek Dari England" (PDF). Pelita Brunei. 14 September 1966. p. 8. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Remembering the pioneers". Borneo Bulletin Online. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Dua juruterbang tempatan pertama lakar sejarah TUDB » Media Permata Online". Dua juruterbang tempatan pertama lakar sejarah TUDB. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  7. ^ Asia Pacific Defense Forum. Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command. 1999. p. 19.
  8. ^ a b "MINDEF - Jabatanarah Keanggotaan". www.mindef.gov.bn. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  9. ^ a b "IMBAU SEJARAH 2 JURUTERBANG TUDB" (PDF). www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn. 7 August 2021. p. 18. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  10. ^ "His Majesty grants and receives Letters of Credence" (PDF). Brunei Darussalam Newsletter. Vol. 13, no. 1. 1998. p. 10. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  11. ^ "OFFICIAL VISIT AND EVENTS" (PDF). slwa.wa.gov.au. 2010. p. 34. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  12. ^ "APPRECIATION" (PDF). www.mfa.gov.bn. 2004. p. 30. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  13. ^ "News Headlines – IFTAR WITH FORMER COMMANDERS OF RBAirF". www.mindef.gov.bn. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
Military offices
Preceded by 2nd Commander of the Royal Brunei Air Force
27 March 1986 – 1990
Succeeded by
Ibrahim Mohammed
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
High Commissioner of Brunei to Canada
10 January 1998 – 2000
Succeeded by
Preceded by High Commissioner of Brunei to Australia
2001–2003
Succeeded by