Field Marshal Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa (Arabic: خليفة بن أحمد آل خليفة, born 1946) is a Bahraini soldier who serves as Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF).
Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa | |
|---|---|
خليفة بن أحمد آل خليفة | |
 | |
| Chief of Staff of the Bahrain Defence Force | |
| In office January 19, 1974 – March 31, 1988 | |
| Monarch | Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa |
| Minister of Defense and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defence Force | |
| In office March 31, 1988 – January 6, 2008 | |
| Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defence Force | |
| Assumed office January 6, 2008 | |
| Monarch | Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa |
| Preceded by | Salman, Crown Prince of Bahrain |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Salman bin Khalid bin Ali bin Khalifa bin Salman bin Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Khalifa 1946 (age 78) Bahrain |
| Alma mater | Royal Military Academy Sandhurst |
| Occupation | soldier |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Bahrain Defence Force |
| Years of service | 1969—Present |
| Rank | field marshal, Commander-in-Chief |
Biography edit
Enrolling at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on December 19, 1968, Al Khalifa also completed many military courses in Arab countries and elsewhere along with a master's degree in military science from the Joint Services Command and Staff College of the United Kingdom on October 27, 1972. He was meanwhile appointed assistant commander of the recruits at the BDF Training Center on April 10, 1968 and led the graduation column for the first batch of recruits of the BDF in 1969, later that year becoming commander of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion.[1]
On January 19, 1974, Emir Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa appointed him Chief of Staff of the BDF. This was followed on March 13, 1988, by Khalifa bin Ahmed being named Deputy Commander-in-Chief and Minister of Defense. On January 29, 2001, Emir and soon-to-be King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa promoted Khalifa bin Ahmed to Lieutenant-General, followed by the titles of BDF Commander-in-Chief on January 6, 2008,[2] and the rank of field marshal on February 8, 2011.[3]
Awards edit
- Order of Ahmed al-Fateh
- Order of Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa
- Bahrain Medal
- Military Service Appreciation Medal
- Military Duty Medal
- Kuwait Liberation Medal
- United States Legion of Merit
- Saudi Arabian Peninsula Shield Medal
- United Arab Emirates Gulf Cooperation Council Medal
- Order of the Star of Jordan
- Order of the Republic (Egypt)
- Order of the Two Rivers
- International Military Sports Council Medal
References edit
- ^ "المشير الركن خليفة بن أحمد.. بداياته وبصماته بقوة الدفاع حرص على تهيئة الجندي المقاتل المدرك لعظيم مسئوليته تجاه وطنه". Akhbar Al Khaleej. January 20, 2011. Archived from the original on March 5, 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ "تعيين ولي العهد نائبا للقائد الاعلى ... وترقية وزير الدفاع الى قائد قوة دفاع البحرين في 6 يناير 2008". Al-Wasat (Bahrain). January 6, 2008. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ "عاهل البلاد يرعى احتفالا بمناسبة ذكرى يوم قوة الدفاع وتدشين طائرات /بلاك هوك ام". Bahrain News Agency. February 8, 2011. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2021.