Antonette Wemyss Gorman

Rear Admiral Antonette Wemyss Gorman CD (born 1972 or 1973) is a Jamaican military officer serving as the chief of defence staff of the Jamaica Defence Force; she holds the rank of rear admiral. She is the first female chief of staff in Jamaica,[1][2] and was also the first female officer to serve at sea, and the first woman to reach the rank of commander in the JDF.[3] Her seagoing appointment was the first appointment of a woman to a front line combat role in the Caribbean.[1]

Antonette Wemyss Gorman
Wemyss Gorman in 2017
Born1972 or 1973 (age 50–51)
Jamaica
Allegiance Jamaica
Service/branchJamaica Defence Force Coast Guard
Years of service1992–present
RankRear Admiral
Commands heldChief of Defence Staff
Alma materNaval War College
University of the West Indies
Children1

Career

Prior to her military career, from 1990 Wemyss Gorman worked two years at Cable & Wireless.[4]

In 1992, at the age of 19, she enlisted into the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF). She completed her initial officer training at the UK Britannia Royal Naval College. Between 1994 and 1997, she was navigating officer on the HMJS Paul Bogle. She became the first woman officer to go to sea in the Jamaica Coast Guard.[3] Her seagoing appointment was also the first appointment of a woman to a front line combat role in the Caribbean.[1]

She served fifteen years aboard ships in the Jamaica Coast Guard. In addition to command of ships, she was Operations Officer and Officer Commanding Shore Base, Second in Command of the JDF Air wing, and prior to her appointment as JDF chief of staff, she was Commanding Officer of the JDF Coast Guard. She was the first woman to reach the rank of commander in the JDF.[3] She was responsible for the founding of the Caribbean Military Maritime Training Centre. She was promoted to rear admiral when she was designated as chief of defence staff.[4][5]

In parallel to serving in the military, she also filled civilian roles. In 1998, as a secondment for two years, she was appointed Deputy Director for Marine Transport in the Ministry of Transport and Works. She also served on the Fisheries Advisory Board, and on the National COVID-19 Response Advisory Committee.[4][3]

She is an alumna of the US Naval War College, and received a master's in National Security and Strategic Studies from the University of the West Indies.[6]

Honours

Wemyss Gorman has been awarded numerous honours for her services in the military including the Order of Distinction (Commander Class), the Medal of Honour for both Meritorious Service and General Service, the Military Commendation Medal, and both the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.[7]

Personal

Wemyss Gorman was born in 1972 or 1973.[8] She has a son and is married to Jonathan Wemyss Gorman. She enjoys gardening as a hobby. She was raised by her grandparents in Top Alston, Clarendon. She studied at Knox Preparatory School and Knox College.[8]

References
  1. "The phenomenal Antonette Wemyss-Gorman". Jamaica Observer. January 24, 2022. Archived from the original on January 30, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  2. "Editorial | Crime, SOEs and Rear Admiral Wemyss Gorman". Jamaica Gleaner. January 23, 2022. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  3. "Women's Leadership Initiative hails appointment of Cdr Wemyss Gorman". Loop News. September 24, 2021. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  4. "12 things about history-making Antonette Wemyss Gorman". Loop News. September 25, 2021. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  5. "Four JDF senior officers promoted". Jamaica Observer. February 8, 2019. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  6. "Chief of Defence Staff". JDF.org. Jamaica Defence Force. Archived from the original on 2022-01-24. Retrieved 2022-01-24.
  7. "Chief of Defence Staff". The Official Website of The Jamaica Defence Force.
  8. "12 things about history-making Antonette Wemyss Gorman". Loop News. September 25, 2021. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
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