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Chief of the Defence Staff
Incumbent Brigadier general Tupou Tongapoʻuli Aleamotuʻa since 21 December 2014
His Majesty's Armed Forces
Reports to	Minister for HMAF
Formation	1977
First holder	Fetuʻutolu Tupou

The Chief of the Defence Staff is the professional head of the Tongan military. They are responsible for the administration and the operational control of the military.

Until 2013, commanders were called Commander of the Tongan Defence Services. In 2013, the title was changed to Chief of the Defence Staff of the HMAF.

List of officeholders

No.	Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Term of office			Ref.
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
Commander of the Tongan Defence Services
1		Colonel Fetuʻutolu Tupou (?–2005)	1977	31 March 2000	22–23 years
2		Brigadier general Tauʻaika ʻUtaʻatu (born 1956)	31 March 2000	5 November 2013	13 years, 219 days
Chief of the Defence Staff of the HMAF
2		Brigadier general Tauʻaika ʻUtaʻatu (born 1956)	5 November 2013	21 December 2014	1 year, 46 days
3		Brigadier general Tupou Tongapoʻuli Aleamotuʻa (born 1966)	21 December 2014	Incumbent	10 years, 10 days

References

1. ^ "Tonga Defence Services (Amendment) Act 2013" (PDF). paclii.org. p. 6. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
2. "TDS Commander, Col. Fetu'utolu Tupou retires". Matangi Tonga Online. 20 March 2000. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
3. ^ "Brigadier General 'Uta'atu retires from HMAF". Matangi Tonga Online. Vava'u Press. 21 December 2014. Archived from the original on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
4. "Fielakepa title goes to HMAF Commander". Matangi Tonga Online. 10 April 2015. Archived from the original on 14 September 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2018.

• Tongan military personnel
• Chiefs of defence