LIEUTENANT COLONEL (U) HAJAH SURIANI BINTI HAJI JUNAIDI
Lieutenant Colonel (U) Hajah Suriani binti Haji Junaidi is the Head of Inspectorate of Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) and has held this post since 23rd May 2022 after her assignment as a Defence Attache in Thailand. She began her military career on 7th September 1993 when she was enlisted as a potential Officer Cadet in the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF).
Lieutenant Colonel (U) Hjh Suriani's first tour of duty was as a Berakas Platoon Officer under the Women's Company. She was attached to the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Commander's office for almost one year as a Staff Officer Grade 3 before progressing to the Royal Brunei Land Forces as a Staff Officer Grade 3 Logistics from December 1996 to January 2000. She was the Staff Officer Grade 3 at the Combat Development and Operational Development (presently Directorate of Force Capability Development) from 2000 to 2001. She was later posted as a Training Officer of the Recruit Company, Training Institute, from 2002 until 2004.
In December 1999, she was promoted to Captain and a Major in December 2003. She was posted to The Royal Brunei Air Force from 2005 until 2013, being entrusted with three different appointments; Staff Officer Grade 2 Training, Acting Officer Commanding of Air Technical Training School and Staff Officer Grade 2 Inspectorate, Royal Brunei Air Force.
Lieutenant Colonel (U) Hjh Suriani was the Staff Officer Grade 2 J7 (Training) of the Joint Force Headquarters from January 2014 to October 2015. In November 2015, She was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and achieved a milestone for becoming the first lady officer to take on the role as Mindef Spokesperson. She was the Assistant Chief of Staff, Royal Brunei Airforce in 2017 before being posted to Thailand as Brunei Defence Attache in December 2018.
While serving in the RBAF, she has attended several courses both locally and overseas, notably in the inaugural Command and Staff Course in Brunei from November 2010 to August 2011 and also attended the 13th Executive Development in 2016.
Throughout her career, Lt Col (U) Hajah Suriani has made significant strides which will chartered the way for other female officers in RBAF. Her credibility, aptititude and capability led her to assume a number of leadership roles that were previously male dominated. She was the first lady officer to take on the positions of Mindef Spokesperson, Defence Attache in the RBAF and Head of Inspectorate Unit Royal Brunei Air Force.
