The Tribune

A VETERAN Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) officer has become the first Bahamian to obtain an academic degree from the United States Naval Postgraduate School (NPS).

Acting Lieutenant Commander Darren Henfield completed a Master of Arts degree in Security Studies - and was the recipient of the coveted Kiwanis Outstanding International Student Award presented to an international student chosen from among peers for academic standing, achievement and involvement in community affairs.

A 1979 graduate of Abaco Central High School, Ag/Lt/Cdr Henfield is an almost 35-year veteran of the Force, serving 17 years as an enlisted marine and nearly 18 years as a commissioned officer. He is also a duly qualified Counsel and Attorney-at-Law. Prior to going abroad, he served nearly three years as an assistant counsel in the Office of the Attorney-General. He has been assistant to the technical officer of the recent Constitution Commission.

Ag/Lt/Cdr Henfield has served in every major area of the RBDF, including operations, administration, headquarters and training over the years. He currently serves as the Force Inspectorate Officer at Defence Force Headquarters. His past assignments and appointments include serving as a commissioned officer in several billets aboard HMBS Nassau, performing the duties of Regulating Petty Officer in the Administration Department, and serving as a Training Instructor in the Training Department. Ag/Lt/Cdr Henfield has also served as the Administration Staff Officer (S1) for the CARICOM (Caribbean Community) battalion during the 2002 Exercise Tradewinds, and marks his participation in the 1994 United Nations Mission to Haiti among the high points of his service life.

The senior career officer and his wife of nearly 31 years, Deidre, have three sons and one granddaughter.

In paying a courtesy call on the Acting RBDF Commander, Captain Tellis Bethel, at the Defence Force Headquarters, the Director of Strategy, Policy and Plans at the United States Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), Rear Admiral Richard Snyder presented Ag/Lt/Cdr Henfield with his degree.

The school’s Master of Arts in Security Studies programme was spread over a five quarter period, and included the production of an in-depth research paper coupled with the requirement to pass a number of diverse courses. The first Bahamian to obtain an academic degree from the institution, Ag/Lt/Cdr Henfield’s thesis entitled ‘Making the National Security Council ‘Better in The Bahamas’ to Resolve Illegal Migration’, examines the perennial national security issues of the Bahamas and offers recommendations on addressing the current concerns over unabated illegal immigration from Haiti.

The course was made available under the US International Military Education and Training (IMET) Program. This programme has made numerous training courses and programmes available to Officers and Marines of the RBDF over the years and is funded by the American State Department through the United States Embassy in Nassau.