DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE

LIEUTENANT COLONEL HAJI FADZLI BIN HAJI ABDULLAH
MScEcon, BA (Hons), P.S.B, P.J.K

Acting Director of Intelligence Directorate of Intelligence
Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam

Lieutenant Colonel Haji Fadzli bin Haji Abdullah has served as the Acting Director of Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam, since 28 May 2026. He was enlisted in the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) on 8 May 2000. In October 2001, he completed his initial officer training at SAFTI Military Institute, Republic of Singapore.

Throughout his career, Lieutenant Colonel Haji Fadzli has held a wide range of appointments. He began his service as an Infantry Platoon Commander in B Company, 1st Battalion, Royal Brunei Land Forces (RBLF),  before being appointed as an Intelligence Officer at the 1st Battalion, RBLF. In 2003, he was posted as a Research Officer at the Directorate of Intelligence and Security, Ministry of Defence. From 2004 to 2005, he was selected to join the first International Monitoring Team in Mindanao, Republic of the Philippines, while also serving as an Intelligence Officer. From 2005 to 2013, he served as a Research Officer and was subsequently appointed Head of Division in the Research Branch of the Defence Minister’s Office and Directorate of Strategic Planning (DMO&DSP), Ministry of Defence.

In 2013, he served in an acting capacity as Staff Officer Grade 1 in the Defence Security Branch, DMO&DSP, and in 2016 was appointed substantively to the same position. In this role, he served as a security adviser to the Ministry of Defence and the RBAF through the Director of DMO&DSP. On 24 May 2017, by the consent of His Majesty The Sultan and Yang Di- Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In 2018, he was appointed Staff Officer Grade 1 (Land) at the Directorate of Force Capability Development, and in 2019, was posted as Staff Officer Grade 1 at the Directorate of Intelligence. In August 2021, he was appointed Head of the Information Fusion Cell at the National Coordinating Centre for COVID-19 (N3C19). With effect from 1 April 2022, he was appointed Staff Officer Grade 1 J2 at Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ). While serving at JFHQ, he was also entrusted with the responsibilities of Acting Chief of Staff and Acting Deputy Joint Force Commander. On 28 May 2026, he was appointed Acting Director of Intelligence, Directorate of Intelligence, Ministry of Defence.

Lieutenant Colonel Haji Fadzli holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Politics, awarded by Southampton Institute, United Kingdom (1996), as well as a Master of Science in Economics (MScEcon) in Intelligence and Strategic Studies from Aberystwyth University, Wales (2012).

Throughout his career, he has attended various professional military and security related courses both locally and abroad, specialising in intelligence, counter-terrorism, and security management. These include the Platoon Commander Course (2002), Unit Security Officer Course (2003), Basic Manpower Officers Course in Singapore (2004), RBAF Junior Staff Course (2006), Intelligence Analysis Course with the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in Pakistan (2006), Company Commander Course School of Infantry, Quetta, Pakistan (2007), Counter Terrorism and Intelligence Training Programme – Whole-of-Government Approach at the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) (2009), Managing Defence in the Wider Security Context and Defence Procurement Course organised by Cranfield University (2009), Security Management for Major Events in Singapore (2014), Defence Technology Course in Jordan (2018), International Intelligence Fellowship Programme organised by US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) (2021), Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI APCSS) Comprehensive Security Cooperation Course in Honolulu, Hawaii (2022), Defence Intelligence 1.5 Track Dialogue at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) in Canberra (2023), International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime on 27 June 2023 and the DKI APCSS Transnational Security Cooperation Course (2025).

In recognition of his service with the International Monitoring Team in Mindanao, he was awarded the Combat Commander’s (Kagitingan) Badge by the Armed Forces of the Philippines in 2005, as well as the Jungle Confidence Course Badge from the Singapore Armed Forces. In 2006, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (Pingat Jasa Kebaktian, P.J.K). In 2013, he was further honoured with The Most Blessed Order of Setia Negara Brunei, 4th Class (Darjah Setia Negara Brunei Yang Amat Bahagia, Darjah Keempat, P.S.B) by His Majesty The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

He is married to Hajah Azza Yossie binti Haji Abdul Aziz and is blessed with five children. Outside of his professional responsibilities, he has a keen interest in history and international affairs. He also maintains an active lifestyle through golf and reading, reflecting his passion for lifelong learning.

Prior to July 2012, the Directorate of Intelligence was known as the Directorate of Intelligence and Security where it oversees matters of Security before that function was handed over to the Defence Security Branch, Directorate of Strategic Planning/The Defence Minister’s Office.

d.    To produce and oversee the implementation of intelligence and training policies for MINDEF and RBAF personnel.

The Directorate of Intelligence also contributes to the defence diplomacy and cooperation efforts at the regional and international levels. 

These are through its participations in meetings and gatherings such as the ASEAN Military Intelligence Meeting (AMIM) and the Asia Pacific Intelligence Chiefs Conference (APICC). The Directorate of Intelligence Is also an active participant in the ASEAN Militaries Analysts-to-Analysts Intelligence Exchange (AMAAIE) in Manila, Philippines and Jakarta, Indonesia respectively. Interactions from these Meetings are regarded as important platforms for confidence building and enhancing cooperation and military relations between countries.

In 2023, the Directorate of Intelligence had successfully hosted the 1st ASEAN Junior Intelligence Interaction Programme held in Brunei Darussalam where 9 countries within South East Asia participated. It was first introduced by the directorate during the ASEAN Chairmanship of Brunei Darussalam in 2021.

In the effort to establish and enhance networking with regional and international military intelligence establishments, the Directorate of Intelligence is also actively cooperating in bilateral intelligence exchanges (INTELEXES) with the military intelligence agencies of friendly countries.  The benefits from these INTELEXES are two-folds, firstly, sharing of information and perspectives on the security issues of respective countries as well as security issues of common concerns. Secondly the exchanges promote closer defence relations with the partners hence enriching the defence diplomacy drive. The Directorate of Intelligence currently holds regular INTELEXES with the US, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam. 

CONTACT US

Negara Brunei Darussalam