MAJOR (U) EMAD HAMDI BIN HAJI SAWAL
Major (U) Emad Hamdi bin Haji Sawal was appointed as the Commanding Officer of No. 1 Wing on 3 October 2025. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant in July 2011 upon graduating from Officer Cadet School, Defence Academy Royal Brunei Armed Forces (DA RBAF) where he was awarded as Best Academic.
He first completed his Basic Flying Training with the Royal Brunei Air Force as a Student Pilot at No. 63 Squadron, Training Wing and continued to do his Basic Helicopter Training at BAE Systems in Tamworth, Australia in 2013. In 2017, Major (U) Emad became a Qualified Helicopter Instructor (QHI) after completing Helicopter Instructor Course with the Republic of Singapore Air Force. Throughout his career, he has held various appointments such as Operational Helicopter Pilot at both 11 and 14 Squadron as well as Flying Instructor Rotary Wing, Flight Commander Training and Squadron Commander of 11 Squadron, No. 1 Wing, Operations Group Royal Brunei Air Force.
As part of his professional development, Major (U) Emad attended the Intermediate Staff Course, Defence Academy RBAF in 2019 where he was awarded with Best Commander RBAF's Paper Award. In 2024, he went on to complete the Advanced Command and Staff Course (Joint) from New Zealand Defence Force Command and Staff College. Upon graduation of this course, he graduated with a Master of Strategic Studies (MSS) with Merit from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
Major (U) Emad is married to Nurqamarina Fakhriah binti Hj Alim Saidi and they are blessed with one daughter, Nur Fatimah 'Elliyeen.
