CHIEF OF STAFF
Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Suwardi Ariffin bin Pehin Datu Laksamana Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Latiff was born on 5 November 1976. He joined the Royal Brunei Armed Forces in 1996. He continued his Initial Officer Cadet Course SAFTI Military Institute in Singapore in 1997 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 5 April 1998.
Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Suwardi Ariffin has served various appointments such as Infantry Platoon Commander, Company Commander, Officer-in-Command for Command Company and as Battalion Second-in-command.
Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Suwardi Ariffin has also served half of his career in the Special Forces Regiment as Troop Leader, Support Officer Commanding, Training Officer, Squadron Second-in-Command and finally served as Commanding Officer of Special Forces Regiment until December 2023 and is currently serving as Joint Force Chief of Staff.
Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Suwardi Ariffin has also joined the peacekeeping mission of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) back in 2012. In recognition of his service, Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Suwardi Ariffin was awarded The Most Faithful Order of Perwira Agong Negara Brunei 1st Class (PP) in 2018 and The Most Honourable Order of Setia Negara Brunei 4th Class (PSB) in 2023.
Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Suwardi Ariffin is married to Lieutenant Colonel (R) Mardiana Binti Mohd Tuah and blessed to have 1 daughter and 1 son.
