ROYAL BRUNEI LAND FORCE COMMANDER
Brigadier General Haji Mohammad Shanonnizam bin Sulaiman joined the Royal Brunei Armed Forces on 12 July 1996. He began his career serving as an Infantry Platoon Commander in 'A' Company, 3rd Battalion Royal Brunei Land Force on completion of his officer cadet training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, United Kingdom in April 1998.
Throughout his military career, Brigadier General Haji Mohammad Shanonnizam has held various staff and command appointments. Trained as a Signal Officer at Warminster United Kingdom in 2000, he then served as a Regimental Signal Officer in 2nd Battalion Royal Brunei Land Force and as Staff Officer Grade 3 Communication at the Royal Brunei Land Force Headquarters. He commanded 'B' Company, 1st Battalion Royal Brunei Land Force in 2003 and had the honour to serve as an Aide de-Camp to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. He served as Staff Officer Grade 2 Communication at the Directorate of Operations and as Staff Officer Grade 2 C41 at the Directorate of Force Capability Development.
Upon completion of his Command and Staff Course at the Australian Defence College in 2009, he commanded the Officer Cadet School, Royal Brunei Armed Forces after a short stint as Staff Officer Grade 2 Intelligence at the Royal Brunei Land Force Headquarters. Then, he served as Staff Officer Grade 1 Communications Information Systems at Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ), as Staff Officer Grade 1 Land Capability Development at the Directorate of Force Capability Development and he commanded 3rd Battalion Royal Brunei Land Force from January 2015 to Jun 2017.
He became the Chief of Staff of Royal Brunei Land Force on 30 July 2020 after completing his three years tour as Defence Adviser to the United Kingdom and non-resident Defence Attache to the Republic of France and Federal Republic of Germany. He attended the Malaysia Armed Forces Defence College in January 2021 and reassumed the Chief of Staff post upon completion of the course on 31 January 2022 with a Master Degree in Defence Studies. He assumed command as the first Field Commander Royal Brunei Land Force on 27 June 2022.
In recognition of his service, Brigadier General Haji Mohammad Shanonnizam was awarded The Most Honourable Order of Setia Negara Brunei 4th Class (PSB) in 2006 and The Most Honourable Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei 3rd Class (SMB) in 2017 by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.
By the consent of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, he was promoted to Brigadier General on 8 June 2023.
Brigadier General Haji Mohammad Shanonnizam is married to Pg Hajah Rozedah binti Pg Haji Sulaiman and blessed with one son. He enjoys running and reading in his spare time.
