PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT
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LIEUTENANT COLONEL (U) DON GIOVANNI BIN ABDUL RAHMAN
MINDEF Spokesperson
Lieutenant Colonel (U) Don Giovanni bin Abdul Rahman was born on 7th June 1977 and began to serve with the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) on 24th Jan 2000. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant on 29th Nov 2001 after completing the 192nd Initial Officer Training course at RAF Cranwell, United Kingdom.
Throughout his career, Lieutenant Colonel (U) Don Giovanni has held various appointments including Staff Officer Grade 3 for Personnel and Administration at RBAirF HQ (2004), Staff Officer Grade 3 for Training (Air) at the Directorate of Training, MINDEF (2006), Second In Command at the Administration Wing, RBAirF in 2007, Project Officer for the establishment of the RBAF Officer Cadet School (OCS) and eventually holding an instructor post as Wing Commander at OCS in 2008. He also held the post of Staff Officer Grade 2 for Training at the RBAirF Headquarters in 2010. Lieutenant Colonel (U) Don Giovanni held the post of Supervising Officer for Doctrine at the RBAF Inspectorate Unit in 2011 before holding the post of Staff Officer Grade 1 Inspectorate (Operations) in 2016. He then was posted the RBAirF as Commanding Officer for No. 6 Wing, RBAirF from Dec 2019. Lieutenant Colonel (U) Don Giovanni then held his current post as MINDEF Spokesperson since February 2020.
Throughout his service, Lieutenant Colonel (U) Don Giovanni had the opportunity to attend various courses and studies both locally and abroad. Among the training that he attended were the International Conference on Engineering and Technology (Brunei) in 2005, 130th Basic Manpower Course, Singapore in 2006, the RAF Training Officers Course at RAF Halton, United Kingdom in 2007 and the Critical Incident Stress Management and Individual Crisis Intervention and Peer Support Course in 2015.
He also attended various Occupational Health and Safety courses including IOSH Managing Safely in 2011, the Masters in Science of Occupational Health, Safety and the Environment at the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom in 2012, Process Management and Incident Investigation And Reporting in 2013, the Safety Management System Audit Course in 2014 as well as the Safety and Damage Control Course in 2015.
Lieutenant Colonel (U) Don Giovanni was bestowed the Darjah Setia Negara Brunei Yang Amat Bahagia Fourth Class (P.S.B.) in 2017.
Lieutenant Colonel (U) Don Giovanni is married to Farah Lisa binti Farid and is blessed with a son and two daughters. His hobbies include reading and golf.
CHRONOLOGY: LEADERSHIP OVER THE YEARS
March 2021
April 2019 to March 2021
June 2017 to April 2019
| Lieutenant Colonel (U) Don Giovanni bin Abdul Rahman
MINDEF Spokesperson
Lieutenant Colonel Dk Sri Rohayou binti Pg Matarsat
MINDEF Spokesperson
Commander Norharirayati binti Yakub, RBN
MINDEF Spokesperson
|
Nov 2015 to June 2017
| Lieutenant Colonel Hajah Suriani binti Haji Junaidi
MINDEF Spokesperson |
| Nov 2013 to Oct 2015 | Major Muhd Kasim bin Haji Awang Yusof
MINDEF Spokesperson |
| Dec 2012 to Aug 2013 | Lieutenant Colonel Haji Salleh bin Haji Suhaili
MINDEF Spokesperson |
| May 2010 to Dec 2012 | Lieutenant Colonel (U) Norudin bin Salleh
MINDEF Spokesperson |
| Jan 2009 to May 2010 | Lieutenant Colonel (L) Rahaimi bin Haji Abd Karim
MINDEF Spokesperson |
| Feb 2008 to Apr 2008 | Lieutenant Colonel (U) Ali bin Haji Sabar
MINDEF Spokesperson |
| Sep 2006 to Sep 2007 | Major Haji Salleh bin Haji Suhaili
MINDEF Spokesperson |
| Oct 2005 to Jul 2006 | Lieutenant Colonel (L) Haji Aznan bin Haji Julaihi
MINDEF Spokesperson |
| Jan 2005 to Oct 2005
| Lieutenant Colonel Ramli bin Hadis
MINDEF Spokesperson |
| Sep 2003 to Dec 2004
| Lieutenant Colonel (U) Sallehin bin Haji Taib
MINDEF Spokesperson |
| 1987 to Sep 2003 | Hajah Fatimah bte Haji Hassan
Senior Public Relations Officer |
HISTORY On 1 March1987 marked the early inception of the Public Relations Section under the Directorate of Politics and Organisation, Ministry of Defence that was headed by a Director. The Directorate comprised of four main Sections namely Legal Section, Public Relations Section, Research Section and Administration Section.
Initially, the Public Relations Section consisted of a small team of civil servants that included a Senior Public Relations Officer as head of the section, a Public Relations Officer, and a clerk. The primary function of the Section was to coordinate incoming and outgoing VIP visits.
Since then, the Public Relations Section underwent significant reforms. In the year 2002, the Public Relations Section was transferred under the Secretariat Office of the Permanent Secretary II (Finance and Development), Ministry of Defence, Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dato Paduka Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Kani.
The section was later renamed as Public Relations Unit and directly reports to the Permanent Secretary II, Ministry of Defence.
In 2003, the Unit underwent further changes with the installation of the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) Spokesperson post as Head of the Public Relations Unit. Meanwhile, the Senior Public Relations Officer acts as the Deputy to the MINDEF Spokesperson, who is assisted by two Public Relations Officers.
The incorporation of more military personnel into the unit marked a significant shift in the establishment structure and signaled the start of its expanding role. In 2006, more military posts were installed to assist function in administration, graphic design and multimedia.The year 2017 signifies the Public Relations Unit 30th anniversary since its inception in 1987. Today, the Public Relations Unit, manned by 20 staffs, reports directly to the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence. The Unit’s roles have expanded and redefined to cover publicity management (print, broadcast, and online), editorial governance, media collaborations and media competency development.
VISION
“To reinforce the positive image of a robust, responsive, and resource efficient armed forces”
MISSION
“To shape perceptions and raise confidence of stakeholders on defence through effective media collaborations and publicity strategy”
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES1. Manages and facilitates defence overall publicity strategy and activities2. Manages collaborations with media partners3. Coordinates updates and review of defence website with relevant stakeholders4. Acts as focal point for public inquiries and complaints5. Supports Brunei Government overall branding aspirations and activities
RESOURCE LIBRARY
Media Releases
E-Newsletter
Photo Gallery
Audio Program
